[Studies on adipocyte glucagon receptor assay--with special reference to the effect of cold acclimation on glucagon receptors of white adipocytes].

The changes in glucagon receptors of white adipocytes from cold-acclimated rats were investigated to know the metabolic role of glucagon in cold acclimation by establishing a glucagon radioreceptor assay system for isolated white adipocytes. Glucagon radioreceptor assay methodology The binding of 125I-labelled glucagon to isolated epididymal white adipocytes was linearly related to the number of cells (0.5-2.0 X 10(5) cells/ml) added in the medium. At a cell concentration higher than 3.0 X 10(5) cells/ml, the amount of specific binding failed to show the proportional relationship to the number of adipocytes. The effects of incubation temperature (4 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C) on the glucagon binding were investigated. Incubation at 25 degrees C was adopted in the present study because of the highest maximum binding and the longest steady state obtained. Preincubation at 25 degrees C for 15 min increased significantly the amount of specific binding. It was confirmed that bacitracin, polypeptide antibiotics, inhibited significantly the degradation of glucagon. The glucagon binding under these conditions was found to be saturable and reversible, validating a specific reaction for the glucagon receptor. When a Scatchard plot was constructed, the data was curvilinear with an upward concavity, indicating the presence of at least two classes of binding site with different fixed affinities or of negatively cooperative interactions between receptors. It was concluded that an appropriate condition for glucagon receptor assay of white adipocytes consists of cell concentration of 1 X 10(5) cells/ml, 15 minute-preincubation and 30 minute-reaction at 25 degrees C in the presence of bacitracin (1 mg/ml). Effect of cold acclimation on glucagon receptors of white adipocytes Cold acclimation decreased the size and increased the number of epididymal white adipocytes. Cold acclimation increased the number of glucagon receptors of white adipocytes; about 140% increase expressed as per cell, approximately 260% increase per unit of surface area and 210% increase per whole tissue. The affinity of binding sites was not changed. The increased binding sites could explain, at least partly, the enhanced metabolic response of cold-acclimated rats to glucagon.