[Effect of adrenalectomy and hydrocortisone on the status of the insulin receptors in the plasma membranes of the rat liver].

A study was made of the effect of adrenalectomy (10 days after operation), administration of hydrocortisone to adrenalectomized rats (1 mg per 100 g bw a day for 10 days, starting from the 1st day after operation), and hydrocortisone-induced hypercorticoidism (5 mg per 100 g bw a day for 14 days) on the parameters of insulin receptors of liver plasma membranes. Depiction of the obtained data in the form of the Sketchard-Meites-Rose dependencies has shown that adrenalectomy increases the concentration and affinity of the receptors for the hormone. Administration of hydrocortisone to adrenalectomized rats reduces the concentration of the receptors, while hypercorticoidism decreases their affinity without affecting the concentration. The data obtained suggest an indirect action of glucocorticoids on the insulin receptors in liver plasma membranes.