title: Identification and characterization of insulin receptors on foetal-mouse brain-cortical cells.
abstract: The occurrence of insulin receptors was investigated in freshly dissociated brain-cortical cells from mouse embryos. By analogy with classical insulin-binding cell types, binding of 125I-insulin to foetal brain-cortical cells was time- and pH-dependent, only partially reversible, and competed for by unlabelled insulin and closely related peptides. Desalanine-desasparagine-insulin, pig proinsulin, hagfish insulin and turkey insulin were respectively 2%, 4%, 2% and 200% as potent as bovine insulin in inhibiting 125I-insulin binding to brain-cortical cells, which corresponds to their relative biological potencies in classical insulin-target cells; no competition was observed with glucagon and nerve growth factor, even at high concentrations. Scatchard analysis of competitive-binding data resulted in curvilinear plots with a high-affinity binding of Ka = 3.6 X 10(8) M-1. Insulin binding to foetal brain-cortical cells differed, however, in two distinct aspects from that to classical insulin-binding cell types. Firstly, dilution of 125I-insulin-bound cells in the presence of unlabelled insulin did not accelerate dissociation of the labelled hormone. Secondly, exposure of brain-cortical cells to insulin before the binding assay enhanced insulin binding, suggesting up-regulation of insulin receptors in response to insulin. In conclusion, foetal-mouse brain-cortical cells bear specific binding sites for insulin. Their insulin receptor shows a marked specificity and affinity for insulin, but differs in at least two properties from most classical insulin receptors. These differences in hormone-receptor interaction could reflect structural differences between insulin receptors on embryonic and differentiated cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus; D005934:Glucagon / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007328:Insulin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D005934:Glucagon; D011972:Receptor, Insulin