The insulin binding properties and the molecular weights of the insulin receptor and its insulin binding subunit were studied in omental and subcutaneous adipocytes prepared from obese- and normal-weight subjects. Insulin binding by such adipocytes was decreased in obesity when the binding activity was expressed per unit of cell surface area. No significant difference from the lean controls was evident, however, when binding was calculated on a per cell basis, indicating that the total receptor content of the cells from the obese subjects was not altered. In addition, the normal difference in the receptor binding affinities previously reported between omental and subcutaneous cells from lean individuals was unaffected by the obese condition. Studies of the molecular weight of the non-reduced insulin receptor in fat cell membranes prepared from pieces of omental and subcutaneous fat demonstrated a major receptor species of 390-425K Mr. In contrast, adipocytes isolated by collagenase treatment of the fat had heterogeneous non-reduced receptor species of Mr 355K, 285K and small amounts of 427K and 182K. Although different non-reduced receptor species were evident depending on the adipocyte receptor preparation (e.g. isolated adipocytes or fat cell membranes), no differences were found between obese and lean controls or between subcutaneous and omental receptors when the appropriate comparisons were made. Upon sulphydryl reduction, all receptor preparations had a major binding subunit of 125K Mr. In conclusion, obesity is characterized by a dilution of the insulin receptor over the adipocyte cell surface in the absence of a change in total cellular content of receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)