Abstract
WHILE insulin can affect the function of the central nervous system (CNS) by producing hypoglycaemia, there is substantial evidence suggesting that insulin can also act directly on cells of the CNS to modify their function1–4. In a study of the phylogeny of the insulin receptor, Posner5 reported specific binding of 125I-insulin to membrane preparations from whole brain of rat, monkey and pigeon. Specific receptors for insulin have been detected in the hypothalamus of monkeys but not in the cerebral cortex or thalamus6; other regions of the CNS were not studied. We report here the presence of substantial concentrations of insulin receptors in discrete regions of the CNS of the rat. We detected specific binding of insulin in every area studied, although it differed by as much as five- to 10-fold among regions. The insulin receptor of the cerebral cortex was most extensively characterised, and by all criteria it was indistinguishable from the insulin receptor on classical target tissues (liver, muscle and fat) as well as other cells of humans, rodents7–10, and other mammals and non-mammalian vertebrates.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chowers, I., Lavy, S. & Halpern, L. Exp. Neurol. 14, 383–389 (1966).
Woods, S. C. & Porte, D. Diabetes 24, 905–909 (1975).
Szabo, O. & Szabo, A. J. Am. J. Physiol. 229, 663–668 (1975); Diabetes 24, 328–336 (1975); J. Physiol., Lond. 253, 121–133 (1975).
Phillips, M. E. & Coxon, R. V. J. Neurochem. 27, 643–645 (1976).
Posner, B. I., Kelly, P. A., Shiu, R. P. C. & Friesen, H. G. Endocrinology 95, 521–531 (1974).
Landau, B. R. et al. Diabetes 25, Suppl. 1, 322 (1976).
Gavin, J. R. III et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 69, 747–751 (1972).
Kahn, C. R. et al. J. biol. Chem. 249, 2249–2257 ( 1974).
Rechler, M. M. & Podskalny, J. M. Diabetes 25, 250–255 (1976).
Ginsberg, B. H., Kahn, C. R. & Roth, J. Endocrinology 100, 82–90 (1977).
Debons, A. F. et al. Am. J. Physiol. 217, 1114–1118 (1969).
Debons, A. F., Krimsky, I. & From, A. Am. J. Physiol. 219, 938–943 (1970).
Margolis, R. U. & Altszuler, N. Nature, 215, 1375–1376 (1967).
Goodner, C. J. & Berrie, M. A. Endocrinology 101, 605–612 (1977).
Sharp, F. R., Kauer, J. S. & Shepherd, G. M. Brain Res. 98, 596–600 (1975).
Cain, D. P. Brain Res. 99, 69–83 (1975).
Papez, J. W. J. nerv. ment. Dis. 126, 40–56 (1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HAVRANKOVA, J., ROTH, J. & BROWNSTEIN, M. Insulin receptors are widely distributed in the central nervous system of the rat. Nature 272, 827–829 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/272827a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/272827a0
This article is cited by
-
The mitochondrial quality control system: a new target for exercise therapeutic intervention in the treatment of brain insulin resistance-induced neurodegeneration in obesity
International Journal of Obesity (2024)
-
The combination treatment of hypothermia and intranasal insulin ameliorates the structural and functional changes in a rat model of traumatic brain injury
Brain Structure and Function (2024)
-
The insulin resistant brain: impact on whole-body metabolism and body fat distribution
Diabetologia (2024)
-
The ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus: watchdog of whole-body glucose homeostasis
Cell & Bioscience (2022)
-
Insulin sensitizes neural and vascular TRPV1 receptors in the trigeminovascular system
The Journal of Headache and Pain (2022)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.