Biguanide Treatment Increases the Number of Insulin-Receptor Sites on Human Erythrocytes

Abstract

THE mode of the antihyperglycemic action of biguanides has been in dispute for many years. Increased muscular uptake of glucose,¹³ decreased gluconeogenesis,⁴ decreased intestinal absorption of glucose,^{5 , 6} increased anaerobic glycolysis,⁷ and a positive shift in membrane-surface potentials^{8 , 9} have all been thought to be responsible for this action. Each of these isolated effects can probably be observed at adequate biguanide concentrations.Clinically, the presence of insulin has been found to be a prerequisite for the antihyperglycemic action of biguanides^{7 , 10 , 11}; the biguanides, however, do not elevate the level of plasma insulin.^{12 13 14} This finding and the observation that the effect of exogenous . . .