Background Prolonged exposure of pancreatic β-cells to fatty acids increases basal insulin secretion but inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Rosiglitazone is a new antidiabetic agent of the thiazolidinediones. However, the relationship between thiazolidinediones and insulin secretion is highly controversial. The aim of this study is to explore the effect and mechanism of rosiglitazone on insulin secretion of islets under chronic exposure to free fatty acids (FFA). Methods Pancreatic islets were isolated from the pancreata of male Sprague-Dawley rats by the collagenase digestion and by the dextran gradient centrifugation method. The purified islets were cultured in the presence or absence of rosiglitazone and palmitate for 48 hours. The insulin secretion was measured by radioimmunoassay. The mRNA level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (, uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2) and insulin were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cell cytotoxicity assay was measured by cell counting kit-8. Results Islets exposed to elevated palmitate for 48 hours showed an increased basal and a decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (P<0.01). The mRNA level of UCP-2 was increased by 3.7 fold in the 0.5 mmol/L concentration of palmitate. When islets were cultured with palmitate (0.5 mmol/L) in the presence of rosiglitazone (1.0 μmol/L), both basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion reversed to a pattern of control islets (P<0.05, P<0.01). The addition of rosiglitazone in the culture medium decreased the mRNA level of UCP-2 by 2.2 fold, having a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) as compared with islets cultured with palmitate alone. The cell viability was not affected. Conclusion The protective effects of rosiglitazone on insulin secretion of isolated pancreatic islets under chronic exposure to palmitate might be mediated through the downregulation of UCP-2 expression. Background Prolonged exposure of pancreatic β-cells to fatty acids increases basal insulin secretion but inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. However, the relationship between thiazolidinediones and insulin secretion is highly controversial. The aim of this study is to explore the effect and mechanism of rosiglitazone on insulin secretion of islets under chronic exposure to free fatty acids (FFA). Methods Pancreatic islets were isolated from the pancreata of male Sprague-Dawley rats by the collagenase digestion and by the dextran gradient centrifugation The purified islets were cultured in the presence or absence of rosiglitazone and palmitate for 48 hours. The insulin secretion was measured by radioimmunoassay. The mRNA level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (, uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2) and insulin were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cell cytotoxicity a ssay was measured by cell counting kit-8. Results Islets exposed to elevated palmitate for 48 hours showed an increased basal and a decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (P <0.01). The mRNA level of UCP-2 was increased by 3.7 fold in the 0.5 mmol / L concentration of palmitate. When islets were cultured with palmitate (0.5 mmol / L) in the presence of rosiglitazone (1.0 μmol / L), both basal and glucose- stimulated insulin- <0.05, P <0.01). The addition of rosiglitazone in the culture medium decreased the mRNA level of UCP-2 by 2.2 fold, had a statistically significant difference (P <0.05) as compared with islets cultured with palmitate alone. The cell viability was not affected. Conclusion The protective effects of rosiglitazone on insulin secretion of isolated pancreatic islets under chronic exposure to palmitate might be mediated through the downregulation of UCP-2 expression.