Caveolae may also help the hormone insulin bind to fat cells, but this is controversial.

Insulin binds to protein receptors on the surface of a fat cell, which activates proteins inside the cell that help lower the amount of sugar in the blood and store fats. Some scientists have shown that insulin receptors attach to caveolae, hinting at a possible role of caveolae in insulin function, but other scientists have disputed this finding. Also, scientists have suggested that caveolae can be absorbed inside the cell, forming spherical vesicles that may carry fats for storage in the cell.

Caveolae may also be involved in regulating the amount of fatty acids – the molecules resulting from the breakdown of fats – present in fat cells. When too many fatty acids are produced inside the cell, the caveolae act as small gates that modulate the release of excess fatty acids outside the cell. Conversely, the caveolae may also help produce fats and later store them in structures called lipid droplets, which are fat storage areas inside fat cells.

Paul F. Pilch and colleagues conclude that although previous and recent studies have revealed that caveolae play key roles in the regulation of fats, more research is needed to understand how they work as well as their molecular composition.-American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology