Objective: 

Islet cells transplantation is one of the cure options on treatment of diabetes mellitus type 1. However, viability of isolated islet is important for successful transplantation. Vildagliptin increases insulin secretion and, inhibits glucagon secretion via increasing the level of GLP-1. In this study, we investigated the effect of vildagliptin on islet cells viability and insulin secretion capacity.

Methods: 

Islet cells were isolated after rats were given vildagliptin orally 20 and 60 mg/kg/day for every 12 hours and 60 and 100 mg/kg/day for every 24 hours during 4 days. After isolation, islets were kept in medium containing 0 ml H2O2 or 300 ml H2O2 at +4 ° C for 15 minutes. Islet cells viability was examined with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide mixture by using a fluorescence microscope. The rest of cells were stored for glucose stimulation test.

Results: 

The viability of islet cells in control group were 90.9% and 81.1% in medium with 0 and 300 ml H2O2, respectively. The viability of islet cells with 0 and 300 ml H2O2 were 86.3% and 77.3% respectively, for two times 20 mg vildagliptin treated group, 85.2% and 81.7% respectively, for two times 60 mg treated group, 85.9% and 80.2% respectively, for 60 mg treated group and 92.6% and 88.5% respectively, for 100 mg group. The islet cells of control and 100 mg vildagliptin groups secreted insulin successfully within high glucose containing medium (P<0.05).

Conclusions: 

Even a short term vildagliptin administration to the donor before islet isolation process might improve islet cells viability and insulin secretion capacity.