The effect of early weaning on insulin receptors in rat liver.

The effect of early weaning on insulin binding was studied in rat hepatocytes. Early weaned rats were separated from lactating females on the 18th postnatal day, control animals were maintained with dams up to the 30th day. Plasma insulin and glucose levels, insulin binding capacity of isolated hepatocytes were determined at the age of 18, 22, 30 and 120 days. In some age groups a body mass and also insulin degradation by hepatocytes were determined. A decrease of plasma insulin and glucose level was found in 22day old early weaned rats as compared to 18 day old rats and to controls of the same age. A decrease of body mass was found in early weaned rats during the first week after weaning. An increase of insulin binding was observed in hepatocytes from 18 to 30 day-old control rats. However, in early weaned animals a highly significant elevation of insulin binding capacity was found in 22 day-old rats. At the age of 30 and l20 days no significant differences in insulin binding capacity of hepatocytes between early weaned and control rats were noted. A decrease of insulin degradation was observed in 22 day-old early weaned rats. These results showed that early weaning affects the glucose homeostasis and insulin binding capacity of rat hepatocytes.