The mechanisms underlying insulin resistance in acromegaly were investigated. Adipose tissue was obtained from nine patients with acromegaly who had in vivo insulin resistance and from 14 matched healthy control subjects. Receptor binding and the antilipolytic effect of insulin were determined in isolated fat cells. Insulin-induced glucose oxidation at a physiological hexose concentration was investigated in fat segments. In fat cells obtained from acromegaly patients after an overnight fast, insulin binding at low hormone concentrations was significantly reduced by 20-30%, insulin-induced antilipolysis was unchanged, but glucose oxidation was unresponsive to insulin. Since it has recently been observed that glucose feeding may rapidly modify insulin action in human adipocytes, fat cells were also obtained 60 min after an 100-g oral glucose load. In this situation, insulin binding at low hormone concentrations was further reduced to one-half of that in the control group, and the sensitivity of insulin-induced antilipolysis was markedly decreased in acromegaly. It is concluded that, in the fasting state, the action of insulin on glucose utilization but not on lipolysis is impaired in adipose tissue of acromegalic patients because of a postreceptor defect. After glucose ingestion, the resistance to insulin in acromegaly is further enhanced and antilipolysis is also impaired. Altered coupling between receptor and effector alone or in combination with an additional decrease in receptor binding may explain the enhancement of insulin resistance. These mechanisms may be essential factors in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in acromegaly.