Effects of glass ionomers and dental resin composites on viability of β-cells and insulin release in isolated islets of Langerhans

Information on the biocompatibility of glass ionomers and resin composites is sparse. To extend the scale of biological testing we evaluated the influence of those materials on insulin secretion at whole organ level in vitro. The effects on insulin secretion of three glass ionomers and two resin composites, aged for 1 week, were studied in isolated mouse islets of Langerhans at basal (5.5 m ) and at stimulatory (11.1 m ) -glucose concentrations. In addition, viability of single mouse β-cells was evaluated. The effect of glass ionomer specimens aged for 1 and 4 months on insulin secretion at 11.1 m -glucose was also studied. None of the materials affected the viability of the β-cells. At 5.5 m -glucose none of the materials affected the insulin secretion. At 11.1 m -glucose, the glass ionomers only decreased the secretion and glass ionomers aged for 1 month still decreased insulin release whereas after 4 months ageing only one of the glass ionomers affected the release. The result shows a dynamic effect on insulin release of the elements and/or compounds released from the specimens.