Exercise training increases GLUT-4 protein in rat adipose cells.

The relative abundance and subcellular distribution of the GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 glucose transporter isoforms were determined in basal and insulin-stimulated adipose cells from wheel cage exercise-trained rats and compared with both age-matched sedentary controls and young cell size-matched sedentary controls. Exercise training increased total estimated GLUT-4 by 67 and 54% compared with age-matched and young controls, respectively. Total estimated GLUT-1 per cell was not significantly different among the three groups. Expressed per cell, plasma membrane GLUT-4 protein in basal adipose cells from exercise-trained and age-matched control rats was 2.5-fold greater than in young controls (P < 0.05) and was associated with higher basal rates of glucose transport in these cells (P < 0.02). In insulin-stimulated cells, plasma membrane GLUT-4 was 67% greater in the exercise-trained animals than young controls (P < 0.01), and 31% greater than in age-matched controls. Rates of glucose transport were correspondingly higher. In basal cells, low-density microsomal GLUT-4 from exercise-trained rats was approximately twofold greater than from age-matched controls and young controls. With insulin stimulation, GLUT-4 in low-density microsomes decreased to similar levels in all groups. We conclude that the total amount of GLUT-4 protein, but not GLUT-1, is increased in adipose cells by exercise training and that this increase in GLUT-4 is due primarily to an increase in intracellular GLUT-4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Exercise training normalizes glucose metabolism in a rat model of impaired glucose tolerance.

The purpose of this study was to characterize an animal model of impaired glucose tolerance produced by streptozocin treatment of rats (45 mg/kg, intravenously [i.v.]) and selection of animals with plasma glucose concentrations less than 150 mg/dL. In addition, we determined the effects of physical training on glucose tolerance and metabolism in these animals. During 10 weeks of monitoring, it was determined that these animals have nearly normal plasma glucose concentrations; however, they have an impaired glucose tolerance when challenged with an oral glucose load. They also have normal fasting insulin, free fatty acid, and triglyceride concentrations, normal body weight and food consumption patterns, and normal rates of skeletal muscle glucose uptake, but impaired basal and insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism in isolated adipose cells. Ten weeks of exercise training normalized both the impaired glucose tolerance and adipose cell function present in the untrained streptozocin-treated rats. Low-dose streptozocin treatment of rats with appropriate selection of animals based on plasma glucose concentrations appears to be an excellent model of impaired glucose tolerance for studies of factors affecting insulin resistance and altered glucose metabolism.

Long term regulation of glucose transporters by insulin in mature 3T3-F442A adipose cells. Differential effects on two glucose transporter subtypes.

The question of a long term regulatory role of insulin on adipocyte glucose transporter content was addressed using the differentiating or fully mature 3T3-F442A adipocytes. Glucose transport was measured in intact cells. Glucose transporter content in plasma membranes and low density microsomes (LDM) was assessed by cytochalasin B binding and Western analysis. In insulin- versus spontaneously differentiated adipocytes, glucose transport and glucose transporters content of plasma membranes and LDM were increased 5-, 4-, and 2-fold, respectively. Insulin deprivation for 24 h induced a redistribution of glucose transporters in those cells which then displayed 2-fold higher glucose transport and glucose transporter content in plasma membranes than spontaneously differentiated cells and 3-fold more glucose transporters in LDM. When fully insulin-differentiated adipocytes were insulin-deprived for 4 days, there was a marked decrease in glucose transporters in both membrane fractions that was fully reversible by reexposing the cells to insulin for 4 days. Glucose uptake changes were closely proportionate to changes in glucose transporter content of plasma membranes as assessed by an antiserum to the C-terminal peptide of the erythrocyte/HepG2/brain-type glucose transporter. When Western blots were immunoblotted with 1F8 monoclonal antibody, specific for glucose transporter in insulin responsive tissues, an abundant immunoreactive protein was detected in both plasma membranes and LDM but the amount of this glucose transporter did not change with insulin exposure in any membrane fractions. In conclusion, insulin plays a long term regulatory role on cultured adipocyte glucose transporter content through a selective effect on the erythrocyte/HepG2/brain-type glucose transporter.

Identification of an intracellular pool of glucose transporters from basal and insulin-stimulated rat skeletal muscle.

The purpose of this study was to simultaneously isolate skeletal muscle plasma and microsomal membranes from the hind limbs of male Sprague-Dawley rats perfused either in the absence or presence of 20 milliunits/ml insulin and to determine the effect of insulin on the number and distribution of glucose transporters in these membrane fractions. Insulin increased hind limb glucose uptake greater than 3-fold (2.4 +/- 0.7 versus 9.2 +/- 1.0 mumol/g x h, p less than 0.001). Plasma membrane glucose transporter number, measured by cytochalasin B binding, increased 2-fold (9.1 +/- 1.0 to 20.4 +/- 3.1 pmol/mg protein, p less than 0.005) in insulin-stimulated muscle while microsomal membrane transporters decreased significantly (14.8 +/- 1.6 to 9.8 +/- 1.4 pmol/mg protein, p less than 0.05). No change in the dissociation constant (Kd approximately 120 nm) was observed. K+-stimulated-p-nitrophenol phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase, and galactosyltransferase specific activity, enrichment, and recovery in the plasma and microsomal membrane fractions were not altered by insulin treatment. Western blot analysis using the monoclonal antibody mAb 1F8 (specific for the insulin-regulatable glucose transporter) demonstrated increased glucose transporter densities in plasma membranes from insulin-treated hind limb skeletal muscle compared with untreated tissues, while microsomal membranes from the insulin-treated hind limb skeletal muscle had a concomitant decrease in transporter density. We conclude that the increase in plasma membrane glucose transporters explains, at least in part, the increase in glucose uptake associated with insulin stimulation of hind limb skeletal muscle. Our data further suggest that these recruited transporters originate from an intracellular microsomal pool, consistent with the translocation hypothesis.

Exercise training increases the number of glucose transporters in rat adipose cells.

We studied the mechanism for the increase in glucose transport activity that occurs in adipose cells of exercise-trained rats. Glucose transport activity, glucose metabolism, and the subcellular distribution of glucose transporters were measured in adipose cells from rats raised in wheel cages for 6 wk (mean total exercise 350 km/rat), age-matched sedentary controls, and young sedentary controls matched for adipose cell size. Basal rates of glucose transport and metabolism were greater in cells from exercise-trained rats compared with young controls, and insulin-stimulated rates were greater in the exercise-trained rats compared with both age-matched and young controls. The numbers of plasma membrane glucose transporters were not different among groups in the basal state; however, with insulin stimulation, cells from exercise-trained animals had significantly more plasma membrane transporters than young controls or age-matched controls. Exercise-trained rats also had more low-density microsomal transporters than control rats in the basal state. When the total number of glucose transporters/cell was calculated, the exercise-trained rats had 42% more transporters than did either control group. These studies demonstrate that the increased glucose transport and metabolism observed in insulin-stimulated adipose cells from exercise-trained rats is due, primarily, to an increase in the number of plasma membrane glucose transporters translocated from an enlarged intracellular pool.

Acute exercise increases the number of plasma membrane glucose transporters in rat skeletal muscle.

To determine whether increased glucose transport following exercise is associated with an increased number of glucose transporters in muscle plasma membranes, the D-glucose inhibitable cytochalasin B binding technique was used to measure glucose transporters in red gastrocnemius muscle from exercised (1 h treadmill) or sedentary rats. Immediately following exercise there was a 2-fold increase in cytochalasin B binding sites, measured in purified plasma membranes enriched 30-fold in 5'-nucleotidase activity. This increase in glucose transporters in the plasma membrane may explain in part, the increase in glucose transport rate which persists in skeletal muscle following exercise. Where these transporters originate, remains to be elucidated.

High-molecular-weight aggregates of therapeutic insulin. In vitro measurements of receptor binding and bioactivity.

On the basis of a monomeric insulin standard, approximately 28% of total circulating immunoreactive insulin in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a covalent aggregate of insulin. This aggregate probably originates in therapeutic insulin preparations. In this study, the activity of these aggregates was compared with that of monomeric insulin with regard to behavior in the radioimmunoassay, binding to insulin receptors, and biologic activity in isolated rat adipose cells. Molar activity of the aggregate in the insulin radioimmunoassay was approximately twice (240%) that of monomeric insulin, whereas the log-logit slope produced by the aggregate was indistinguishable from that of monomeric insulin. Insulin-receptor binding was determined by displacement of 125I-labeled A14-insulin by insulin or insulin aggregate (10(-10)-10(-5) M). The free-insulin and aggregate concentrations required for half-maximal displacement of 125I-insulin were 4.0 x 10(-10) and 2.25 x 10(-9) M, respectively. [1-14C]glucose incorporation into 14CO2, glyceride-glycerol, and fatty acids was measured over a wide range of insulin monomer and aggregate concentrations (0-8 nM). In the bioassay, the maximal rates of glucose metabolism were equal (normal responsiveness). However, the concentration of insulin aggregates producing half-maximal stimulation of glucose metabolism was threefold greater than that of insulin (140 vs. 46 pM, respectively), indicating decreased sensitivity of the adipose cells to the aggregates. This was associated with a sixfold decrease in the Kd for binding of aggregates to adipose cell insulin receptors compared with binding of monomeric insulin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of glucose utilization in adipose cells and muscle after long-term experimental hyperinsulinemia in rats.

The effects of chronic insulin administration on the metabolism of isolated adipose cells and muscle were studied. Adipose cells from 2 and 6 wk insulin-treated and control rats, fed either chow or chow plus sucrose, were prepared, and insulin binding, 3-O-methylglucose transport, glucose metabolism, and lipolysis were measured at various insulin concentrations. After 2 wk of treatment, adipose cell size and basal glucose transport and metabolism were unaltered, but insulin-stimulated transport and glucose metabolism were increased two- to threefold when cells were incubated in either 0.1 mM glucose (transport rate limiting) or 10 mM glucose (maximum glucose metabolism). Insulin binding was increased by 30%, but no shift in the insulin dose-response curve for transport or metabolism occurred. After 6 wk of treatment, the effects of hyperinsulinemia on insulin binding and glucose metabolism persisted and were superimposed on the changes in cell function that occurred with increasing cell size in aging rats. Hyperinsulinemia for 2 or 6 wk did not alter basal or epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis in adipose cells or the antilipolytic effect of insulin. In incubated soleus muscle strips, insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism was significantly increased after 2 wk of hyperinsulinemia, but these increases were not observed after 6 wk of treatment. We conclude that 2 wk of continuous hyperinsulinemia results in increased insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism in both adipose cells and soleus muscle. Despite increased insulin binding to adipose cells, no changes in insulin sensitivity were observed in adipose cells or muscle. In adipose cells, the increased glucose utilization resulted from both increased transport (2 wk only) and intracellular glucose metabolism (2 and 6 wk). In muscle, after 2 wk of treatment, both glycogen synthesis and total glucose metabolism were increased. These effects of hyperinsulinemia were lost in muscle after 6 wk of treatment, when compared with sucrose-supplemented controls.

Proposed mechanism for increased insulin-mediated glucose transport in adipose cells from young, obese Zucker rats. Large intracellular pool of glucose transporters.

The mechanism for hyperresponsive insulin-mediated glucose transport in adipose cells from 30-day-old obese Zucker rats was examined. Glucose transport was assayed by measuring 3-O-methylglucose transport, and the concentration of glucose transporters was estimated by measuring specific D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B binding. Insulin increased glucose transport activity by approximately 17 fmol/cell/min in cells from obese rats compared to 3 fmol/cell/min in lean littermates. Insulin increased the concentration of glucose transporters in the plasma membrane fraction by about 15 pmol/mg of membrane protein in both groups. The insulin-mediated decrease in the concentration of transporters in the low-density microsomal fraction was 30 pmol/mg of membrane protein for the obese rats compared to 15 pmol/mg of membrane protein for the lean controls. An estimated number of glucose transporters was calculated using membrane protein and enzyme recoveries for each group. Insulin increased the number of transporters in the plasma membrane by 3 X 10(6) sites/cell for the obese rats and only 0.6 X 10(6) sites/cell for the lean controls. In addition, insulin decreased the number of transporters/cell in the intracellular membrane pool by approximately 4 X 10(6) sites/cell for the obese rats and 0.9 X 10(6) sites/cells for the lean rats. The total number of transporters/cell was about 7 X 10(6) sites/cell for the obese animals and 1.6 X 10(6) sites/cell for the lean controls. In the basal state, more than 80% of these transporters were located in the intracellular pool for both the lean and obese rats. Thus, the marked hyperresponsive insulin-mediated glucose transport observed in adipose cells from 30-day-old obese Zucker rats may be the consequence of a marked increase in the number of glucose transporters in the intracellular pool.

Potential mechanism of the stimulatory action of insulin on insulin-like growth factor II binding to the isolated rat adipose cell. Apparent redistribution of receptors cycling between a large intracellular pool and the plasma membrane.

Previous studies have proposed that insulin increases the binding of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in isolated rat adipose cells at 24 degrees C by increasing receptor affinity (Ka). This study re-examines these observations under conditions in which receptor-ligand internalization is blocked by 1 mM KCN. In the absence of KCN, adipose cells bind 0.71 amol of IGF-II/cell with low apparent affinity (0.030 nM-1), of which greater than 75% is not accessible to trypsin. In contrast, in the presence of KCN, IGF-II binding is decreased by 95% and its apparent affinity increased to 0.21 nM-1. Moreover, greater than 60% of the bound IGF-II now is sensitive to trypsin. In either the absence or presence of KCN, approximately 20% of the cell's total IGF-II receptors are present in the plasma membranes and approximately 80% in the low density microsomes. Insulin induces a 5-fold increase in cell surface IGF-II receptors without a change in affinity when IGF-II binding is measured in the presence of KCN. Similarly, insulin increases IGF-II receptor concentration in the plasma membranes and concomitantly decreases that in the low density microsomes. Receptor affinity in these two subcellular membrane fractions is not affected by incubation of intact cells with either insulin or KCN and is similar to that observed in intact cells in the presence of KCN. Addition of KCN prior to insulin abolishes all of these effects of insulin. These data suggest that (a) the effects of KCN reflect a selective blockade of endocytosis; (b) in the absence of KCN, IGF-II binds to receptors of constant affinity that cycle between the plasma membrane and an intracellular pool resulting in an accumulation of intracellular IGF-II; (c) insulin induces an increase in IGF-II binding by causing a steady state redistribution of receptors from this intracellular pool to the plasma membrane; and (d) this redistribution in the intact cell can only be detected using Scatchard analysis when recycling of the receptors is prevented by KCN.

Insulin-induced translocation of intracellular glucose transporters in the isolated rat adipose cell.

Three techniques have now been used to demonstrate that insulin stimulates glucose transport in isolated rat adipose cells through the translocation of glucose transporters from a large intracellular pool to the plasma membrane. By using a specific D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B-binding assay, most of the basal cell's transporters are found associated with a low-density microsomal membrane fraction. However, although Golgi marker enzyme activities are also enriched in this fraction, their distributions over all fractions do not parallel that of the transporters. In response to insulin, more than half of the intracellular transporters are translocated to the plasma membranes without a corresponding redistribution of marker enzyme activities. Furthermore, although the Kd of the transporters in the plasma membranes remains constant at approximately 100 nM, that of the intracellular transporters decreases from approximately 140 to approximately 100 nM. Nevertheless, transport activity is reconstitutable from, and an affinity-purified rabbit IgG against the purified human erythrocyte transporter cross-reacts with a 45,000-dalton band in, both plasma membranes and the low-density microsomal membrane fraction in proportion to the number of glucose transporters determined by cytochalasin B binding. Thus, intracellular glucose transporters in the rat adipose cell appear to be 1) localized to a unique membrane species, 2) either compartmentalized in two distinguishable pools or processed during their cycling to the plasma membrane in response to insulin, but fully functional and indistinguishable when reconstituted into liposomes, and 3) immunologically similar to the human erythrocyte glucose transporter.

Insulin-stimulated translocation of glucose transporters in the isolated rat adipose cells: characterization of subcellular fractions.

Insulin stimulates glucose transport in rat adipose cells through the translocation of glucose transporters from an intracellular pool to the plasma membrane. A detailed characterization of the morphology, protein composition and marker enzyme content of subcellular fractions of these cells, prepared by differential ultracentrifugation, and of the distribution of glucose transporters among these fractions is now described. Glucose transporters were measured using specific D-glucose-inhibitable [3H]cytochalasin B binding. In the basal state, roughly 90% of the cells' glucose transporters are associated with a low-density microsomal, Golgi marker enzyme-enriched membrane fraction. However, the distributions of glucose transporters and Golgi marker enzyme activities over all fractions are clearly distinct. Incubation of intact cells with insulin increases the number of glucose transporters in the plasma membrane fraction 4-5 fold and correspondingly decreases the intracellular pool, without influencing any other characteristics of the subcellular fractions examined or the estimated total number of glucose transporters (3.7 X 10(6)/cell). Insulin does not influence the Kd of the glucose transporters in the plasma membrane fraction for cytochalasin B binding (98 nM), but lowers that in the intracellular pool (from 141 to 93 nM). The calculated turnover numbers of the glucose transporters in the plasma membrane vesicles from basal and insulin-stimulated cells are similar (15 X 10(3) mol of glucose/min per mol of transporters at 37 degrees C), whereas insulin appears to increase the turnover number in the plasma membrane of intact cells roughly 4-fold. These results suggest that (1) the intracellular pool of glucose transporters may comprise a specialized membrane species, (2) intracellular glucose transporters may undergo conformational changes during their cycling to the plasma membrane in response to insulin, and (3) the translocation of glucose transporters may represent only one component in the mechanism through which insulin regulates glucose transport in the intact cell.

Proposed mechanism of insulin-resistant glucose transport in the isolated guinea pig adipocyte. Small intracellular pool of glucose transporters.

A marked resistance to the stimulatory action of insulin on glucose metabolism has previously been shown in guinea pig, compared to rat, adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes. The mechanism of insulin resistance in isolated guinea pig adipocytes has, therefore, been examined by measuring 125I-insulin binding, the stimulatory effect of insulin on 3-0-methylglucose transport and on lipogenesis from [3-3H]glucose, the inhibitory effect of insulin on glucagon-stimulated glycerol release, and the translocation of glucose transporters in response to insulin. The translocation of glucose transporters was assessed by measuring the distribution of specific D-glucose-inhibitable [3H]cytochalasin B binding sites among the plasma, and high and low density microsomal membrane fractions prepared by differential centrifugation from basal and insulin-stimulated cells. At a glucose concentration (0.5 mM) where transport is thought to be rate-limiting for metabolism, insulin stimulates lipogenesis from 30 to 80 fmol/cell/90 min in guinea pig cells and from 25 to 380 fmol/cell/90 min in rat cells with half-maximal effects at approximately 100 pM in both cell types. Insulin similarly stimulates 3-O-methylglucose transport from 0.40 to 0.70 fmol/cell/min and from 0.24 to 3.60 fmol/cell/min in guinea pig and rat fat cells, respectively. Nevertheless, guinea pig cells bind more insulin per cell than rat cells, and insulin fully inhibits glucagon-stimulated glycerol release. In addition, the differences between guinea pig and rat cells in the stimulatory effect of insulin on lipogenesis and 3-O-methylglucose transport cannot be explained by the greater cell size of the former compared to the latter (0.18 and 0.09 micrograms of lipid/cell, respectively). However, the number of glucose transporters in the low density microsomal membrane fraction prepared from basal guinea pig cells is markedly reduced compared to that from rat fat cells (12 and 70 pmol/mg of membrane protein, respectively) and the translocation of intracellular glucose transporters to the plasma membrane fraction in response to insulin is correspondingly reduced. These results suggest that guinea pig adipocytes are markedly resistant to the stimulatory action of insulin on glucose transport and that this resistance is the consequence of a relative depletion in the number of intracellular glucose transporters.

Identification of the D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B binding site as the glucose transporter in rat diaphragm plasma and microsomal membranes.

[3H]Cytochalasin B binding and its competitive inhibition by D-glucose have been used to identify, the glucose transporter in plasma and microsomal membranes prepared from intact rat diaphragm. Scatchard plot analysis of [3H]cytochalasin B binding yields a binding site with a dissociation constant of roughly 110 nM. Since the inhibition constant of cytochalasin B for D-glucose uptake by diaphragm plasma membranes is similar to this value, this site is identified as the glucose transporter. Plasma membranes prepared from diaphragms bind approx. 17 pmol of cytochalasin B/mg of membrane protein to the D-glucose-inhibitable site. If 280 nM (40000 microunits/ml) insulin is present during incubation, cytochalasin B binding is increased roughly 2-fold without alteration in the dissociation constant of this site. In addition, membranes in the microsomal fraction contain 21 pmol of D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B binding sites/mg of membrane protein. In the presence of insulin during incubation the number of these sites in the microsomal fraction is decreased to 9 pmol/mg of membrane protein. These results suggest that rat diaphragm contain glucose transporters with characteristics identical to those observed for the rat adipose cell glucose transporter. In addition, insulin stimulates glucose transport in rat diaphragm through a translocation of functionally identical glucose transporters from an intracellular membrane pool to the plasma membrane without an alteration in the characteristics of these sites.

Physical training of lean and genetically obese Zucker rats: effect on fat cell metabolism.

The effects of 6-wk treadmill training program on the metabolism of isolated adipose cells from obese (fa/fa) and lean (Fa/?) Zucker rats were studied. Glucose metabolism and transport, insulin binding, and lipolysis were measured in adipose cells prepared from sedentary control and exercise-trained (ET) lean and/or obese rats. Two- to threefold increases in glucose metabolism were observed in cells from lean and obese ET rats compared with their respective controls. However, the insulin concentrations giving half-maximal stimulation (measuring insulin sensitivity) did not change (approximately 8 microunits/ml in lean and approximately 45 microunits/ml in obese rats). In lean ET rats, glucose transport and maximal glucose metabolic capacity (transport not rate-limiting) were increased twofold and sensitivity of lipolysis to epinephrine was increased three- to fourfold. These were not measured in obese rats. The results suggest that training of both lean and obese Zucker rats increases glucose utilization in adipose cells by increasing both glucose transport and intracellular glucose metabolism. Increased triglyceride turnover is also suggested by the increased sensitivity of lipolysis to epinephrine.

Mechanism of insulin-resistant glucose transport activity in the enlarged adipose cell of the aged, obese rat.

The effects of increasing cell size on glucose transport activity and metabolism and on the concentrations of glucose transport systems in both the plasma and low density microsomal membranes in isolated adipose cells from the aging rat model of obesity have been examined. Glucose transport activity was assessed by measuring l-arabinose transport and the concentration of glucose transport systems estimated by measuring specific d-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B-binding. Basal glucose transport activity increases from 0.3 to 1.4 fmol/cell/min with a 10-fold increase in cell size, but remains constant per unit cellular surface area and is accompanied by a constant 5 pmol of glucose transport systems/mg of membrane protein in the plasma membrane fraction. Maximally insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity, on the other hand, remains constant at 2.3 fmol/cell per min with increasing cell size, but markedly decreases per unit cellular surface area and is accompanied by a decrease from 30 pmol of glucose transport systems/mg of plasma membrane protein to the basal level. These diminished effects of insulin on glucose transport activity and the number of glucose transport systems in the plasma membrane fraction in enlarged cells are paralleled by an 80% decrease in the basal number of glucose transport systems/mg of membrane protein in the low density microsomal membrane fraction, the source of those glucose transport systems appearing in the plasma membrane in response to insulin. The effects of cell size on the metabolism of a low concentration of [1-(14)C]glucose (0.56 mM) directly parallel those on glucose transport activity and the concentration of glucose transport systems in the plasma membrane fraction, and are not associated with significant alterations in the cell's sensitivity to insulin. Thus, adipose cellular enlargement is accompanied by the development of a marked "insulin resistance" at the glucose transport level, which may be the consequence of a relative depletion of glucose transport systems in the intracellular pool.

Potential mechanism of insulin action on glucose transport in the isolated rat diaphragm. Apparent translocation of intracellular transport units to the plasma membrane.

[3H]Cytochalasin B binding and its competitive inhibition by D-glucose have been used to quantitate the number of functional glucose transport units in plasma and microsomal membranes prepared from intact rat diaphragm. In a series of three experiments, plasma membranes prepared from diaphragms which have not been incubated with insulin bind approximately 16 pmol of cytochalasin B/mg of membrane protein to the D-glucose-inhibitable binding site. If 280 nM (40,000 microunits/ml) insulin is present during the incubation, cytochalasin B binding to the plasma membranes is increased approximately 2-fold without alteration in the dissociation constant of this site. Membranes in the microsomal fraction prepared from diaphragms which have been incubated for 30 min in the absence of insulin contain 21 pmol of D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B binding sites/mg of membrane protein. However, in the presence of insulin during the incubation period, the number of these sites in the microsomal fraction is decreased to 12 pmol/mg of membrane protein. These results suggest that insulin stimulates glucose transport in the isolated rat diaphragm primarily through a translocation of functional glucose transport units from an intracellular membrane pool to the plasma membrane. These results are similar to the results observed in rat adipose cells (Cushman, S. W., and Wardzala, L. J. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 4758-4762) and suggest that this mechanism of insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity may be general to other cell types.

Effects of dietary composition on glucose metabolism in rat adipose cells.

The effect of altered dietary carbohydrate and fat content on equilibrium insulin binding to, and glucose transport activity and metabolism in, isolated rat epididymal adipose cells has been studied. Alterations in basal and insulin-stimulated total glucose utilization induced by changes in the ratio of dietary carbohydrate to fat are accounted for by specific effects of dietary composition at two levels of cellular function: 1) glucose transport across the cell's plasma membrane, specifically, the number of functional glucose transport systems, and 2) the cell's maximal capacity for glucose metabolism. These effects occur without alterations in insulin binding or the cell's sensitivity to insulin. Furthermore, diet-induced changes in the pattern of 14CO2, and 14C-triglyceride glycerol and fatty acid production appear to be accounted for primarily by the influence of dietary composition on the total amount of glucose entering the cell. Thus, under the conditions of this study, changes in dietary composition alter the adipose cell's capacities for glucose transport and metabolism without altering the mechanisms of insulin action or regulating the metabolic flow of glucose carbons.