Chronic exercise increases insulin binding in muscles but not liver.

It has been postulated that the improved glucose tolerance provoked by chronic exercise is primarily attributable to increased insulin binding in skeletal muscle. Therefore, we investigated the effects of progressively increased training (6 wk) on insulin binding by five hindlimb skeletal muscles and in liver. In the trained animals serum insulin levels at rest were lower either in a fed (P less than 0.05) or fasted (P less than 0.05) state and after an oral glucose tolerance test (n = 8) (P less than 0.05). Twenty-four hours after the last exercise bout sections of the liver, soleus (S), plantaris (P), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and red (RG) and white gastrocnemius (WG) muscles were pooled from four to six rats. From control animals, killed at the same time of day, muscles and liver were also obtained. Insulin binding to plasma membranes increased in S, P, and EDL (P less than 0.05) but not in WG (P = 0.07), RG (P greater than 0.1), or in liver (P greater than 0.1). There were insulin binding differences among muscles (P less than 0.05). Comparison of rank orders of insulin binding data with published glucose transport data for the same muscles revealed that these parameters do not correspond well. In conclusion, insulin binding to muscle is shown to be heterogeneous and training can increase insulin binding to selected muscles but not liver.