Insulin receptor of fat cells in insulin-resistant metabolic states.

A diminished response to insulin is exhibited by isolated fat cells obtained from rats that have been either starved, or treated with prednisone, or made diabetic by administration of streptozotocin. This decrease in response is not accompanied by changes in the quantity of insulin receptor of these cells or in the affinity of these receptors for insulin. Similarly, the decreased responsiveness to insulin of fat cells obtained from certain species (hamster, rabbit, mouse, guinea pig) is not explainable in terms of alterations of the insulin receptor.