Objective: Ghrelin is a peptid hormone that is released largely from stomach and has effects on insulin secretion and glucose metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of enalapril on ghrelin expression at streptozocin (STZ) induced diabetes mellitus stomach tissues in rats.

Material and Method: We used 24 male Wistar albino rats that were 8 weeks age. The rats were divided into 4 groups that have 6 animals in each groups. No application was made to control group. To the buffer group, only 0,1 M phosphate-citrate buffer was injected intraperitoneally (i.p). To the diabetic group 50 mg/kg STZ solved in phosphate-citrate buffer was injected. In diabetes+enalapril group, 50 mg/kg STZ was injected and enalapril was given 5 mg/kg/day orally after development of diabetes. Finally rats were decapitated and stomach tissues were removed. With routine procedures, tissues were embedded in paraphine blockes. For ghrelin expression ‘‘avidin-biotin-peroxidase\'\' method was applied. Ghrelin positive cells were counted with eyepiece gratucule and statistical analysis was performed.

Results: Statistically, the number of ghrelin positive cells did not show significiant difference between control and buffer group. In comporation with control and buffer group there was decrease at diabetic group. In comparison with diabetic group, there was significant increase at diabet+enalapril group.

Conclusion: Experimental diabetes decreases ghrelin positive cells, enalapril increases ghrelin positive cells at rat stomach. It was concluded that with more further comprehensive studies, ghrelin may contribute to the elucidation of pathophysiology of diabetic gastroparesis.