Insulin receptors in virus-induced diabetes mellitus in mice.

Abstract

Quantitative estimations were made of insulin receptors on liver cell membrane of DBA/2 mice infected with M variant of encephalomyocarditis virus. The virus produced an impairment of glucose metabolism on day 3 of infection, which lasted for 5 months. The fasting plasma insulin concentration was markedly decreased on day 14. The specific binding of 125-I insulin to the membrane receptor was significantly decreased on day 3 of infection. The binding inhibitions were stronger in male mice than in females. The number of insulin receptors began to decrease on day 1, was decreased remarkably by day 3, and returned on day 7 to the level before infection. A decrease of receptor affinity was also observed in infected animals. These results seem to show that changes in insulin receptors are one cause of the impairment of glucose metabolism in the initial phase of virus-induced diabetes.