Effects of insulin deficiency on the catabolism of plasma lipoproteins and on the expression of hepatic lipoprotein receptors in rats.

The effect of insulin deficiency on the expression of lipoprotein receptors by the liver and on the in vivo catabolism of plasma lipoproteins was investigated in rats made insulin deficient by an I.V. injection of streptozotocin. The binding of beta very low density lipoprotein to liver membranes was not affected by insulin deficiency, furthermore the in vivo catabolism of beta very low density lipoproteins and low density lipoprotein in diabetic rats was similar to that of controls. These data suggest that insulin deficiency neither modulates the expression of receptors for lipoproteins by the liver nor the in vivo catabolism of lipoproteins such as beta very low density and low density lipoproteins which are removed from the plasma, at least in part, by receptor mediated processes.