Horm Metab Res 1986; 18(7): 462-465
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1012346
Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

The Erythrocyte Insulin Receptor Response to Insulin Induced Hypoglycaemia

A. McElduff, D. R. Chipps, C. J. Eastman
  • Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Westmead Centre, Westmead, Sydney, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

1984

1985

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

Summary

The response of the erythrocyte insulin receptor to a prolonged intravenous infusion of insulin has been measured in normal individuals during hypoglycaemia and when hypoglycaemia was prevented by the concurrent infusion of glucose. When euglycaemia was maintained, mean (± S.D.) specific insulin binding following the 5 hour insulin infusion was unchanged (6.9±2.1 to 6.65±2.2% bound per 2.25 × 109 erythrocytes). In the presence of mild hypoglycaemia, mean (±SD) specific insulin binding rose from 6.6±2.3 to 7.6±2.5% bound per 2.25 × 109 erythrocytes (P < 0.01), after 5 hours. This increase was due to increased receptor affinity. It was not correlated with the increase in the concentration of any individual counter-regulatory hormone. Initial insulin receptor binding correlated strongly with the subsequent decline in plasma glucose concentration (r = 0.9527; P < 0.01). Thus, acute hyperinsulinaemia, when associated with hypoglycaemia, does not result in downregulation of insulin receptors on erythrocytes but rather results in increased receptor binding. Consequently, the insulin receptor may not play an active role in protecting the individual against acute hypoglycaemia.

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