Melatonin influences somatostatin secretion in the human pancreatic δ-cell line QGP-1

Objectives: Disruption of circadian processes in pancreatic islets can lead to metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus type 2. Previous research has focused on the inhibitory influence of melatonin on the release of insulin and on its stimulatory role in glucagon secretion, both mediated through activation of the membrane melatonin receptors MT1 and/or MT2. Until now no information was available concerning the influence of melatonin on somatostatin secretion from pancreatic δ-cells. Methods: Employing the human somatostatinoma cell line QGP-1 somatostatin and second messengers cAMP and cGMP were measured after…