[The insulin receptors of the blood cells and their study in disease states in man (author's transl)].

In man, the assay of insulin receptors is performed on circulating monocytes or erythrocytes. In physiology, insulin binding decreases with age; it is lower in women during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle or during administration of oestrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives; it exhibits diurnal variation; it increases after physical training; it depends on the diet, being inversely correlated with its carbohydrate content; finally, rapid variations in binding affinity are observed after glucose ingestion or after breakfast. In pathology, obese people are resistant to the effects of insulin and they have decreased numbers of receptors on blood cells; short-term fasting induces an increase in the binding affinity, while a long term hypocaloric diet leads to an increase in receptor numbers. Similarly non-insulin-dependent, maturity onset diabetics, even without overweight, have low numbers of binding sites, which are increased by diet or after treatment by sulfonylureas. In the syndrome of insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans, there is a decrease in hormone binding, which is either primary (Type A) or is secondary to the effects of circulating antibodies to the insulin receptor (Type B). In acromegaly, insulinomas, liver cirrhosis and acute viral diseases the binding of insulin is decreased. On the contrary, variable results have been reported in cases of lipoatrophic diabetes, leprechaunism, uremia and glucocorticoid administration. Finally, an increase in insulin receptors has been observed in anorexia nervosa and in insulino-penic diabetes.