Dissociation of the insulin receptor from caveolae during TNFα-induced insulin resistance and its recovery by d-PDMP

► Electron microscopic analyses prove the elimination of insulin receptors from caveolae in the state of insulin resistance. ► This was accompanied by a concomitant increase of ganglioside GM3 in adipocytes. ► Blocking of the GM3 increase restores the number of insulin receptors in caveolae.