The control of insulin receptors in the New Zealand obese mouse.

Insulin receptor concentrations in liver plasma membranes of New Zealand Obese (NZO) mice have been studied. When NZO mice were implanted with normal islets of Langerhans their blood glucose and plasma insulin declined. When the implanted islets were removed these changes were reversed and the mice reverted to their insulin resistant state. Changes were observed in the binding of 125I-insulin to liver plasma membranes of implanted NZO mice. Binding increased when the plasma insulin was decreased and conversely insulin binding decreased when the plasma insulin levels became elevated. The increased insulin binding was not accompanied by any changes in the affinity of NZO liver receptors for insulin.