Horm Metab Res 1981; 13(9): 483-486
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1019312
© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

Transient Effect of Glucocorticoids on Red Blood Cell Insulin Receptors

R. De Pirro, A. Bertoli, A. V. Greco, R. Lauro
  • 2^ Clinica Medica, Policlinico Umberto 1° and Patologia Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
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Publikationsverlauf

1980

1981

Publikationsdatum:
14. März 2008 (online)

Summary

The effect of oral administration of dexamethasone or cortisone on circulating red blood cell (RBC) insulin receptors was evaluated in normal males before treatment and 24 h (day 1), 48 h (day 2) and 72 h (day 3) after the commencement of steroid administration. Dexamethasone induced a slight significant decrease of insulin binding (p < 0.05) on days 1 and 3, whereas cortisone did not. Cortisone, on the other hand, produced transient reduction (i.e. insulin binding lower than mean -2 SD of control values) in six subjects out of eight on days 1, 2 or 3 varying from subject to subject. Binding impairment was due mainly to reduced receptor affinity, even if slight reduction of receptor concentration was detectable. Qualitatively the present data agree that impaired insulin binding is due mainly to reduced receptor affinity; however, the effect of steroids on RBC is not significant and persistent as that on monocytes.

The less marked effect of dexamethasone and cortisone on RBC versus monocytes indicates that receptor modifications may be tissue specific.