Effects of a bitter substance, denatonium benzoate, on pancreatic hormone secretion.

There is increasing evidence linking bitter taste receptor (BTR) signalling to gut hormone secretion and glucose homeostasis. However, its effect on islet hormone secretion has been poorly characterised. This study investigated the effect of the bitter substance, denatonium benzoate (DB), on hormone secretion from mouse pancreatic islets and INS-1 832/13 cells. DB (0.5-1mM) augmented insulin secretion at both 2.8mM and 16.7mM glucose. This effect was no longer present at 5mM DB likely due to greater levels of cellular apoptosis. DB-stimulated insulin secretion involved closure of the K