Ghrelin Attenuates High Potassium Chloride Induced-Insulin Release from Islets of Langerhans

Glucose-induced insulin release is the main factor to maintain glucose homeostasis in our body. Nevertheless, glucose is not the only substance induced insulin release from pancreatic islets. Some amino acids, fatty acids, drugs and high potassium chloride induced insulin release from pancreas. On the other hand, ghrelin, a 28 amino acid peptide, inhibits insulin release. This study aimed to examine the effect of ghrelin on high potassium chloride-induced insulin secretion. This study used male wild-type C57BL/6J mice. Islets of Langerhans were isolated by colagenase digestion. Insulin release (ng/islet/h) from islet was examined by ELISA. Data is represented as means ± SEM and is analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Result showed that high potassium chloride (KCl 30 mM) enhances 8.3 mM glucose-induced insulin release (1.14 ± 0.05 ng/islet/h). Furthermore, ghrelin (1 nM) decreased high potassium chloride-induced insulin secretion significantly compared to high potassium chloride only (0.95 ± 0.05 vs 1.14 ± 0.05 ng/islet/h, p < 0.05). It can be concluded that ghrelin attenuates high potassium chloride effect on insulin secretion.