Aim To investigate whether ghrelin could inhibit apoptosis induced by palmiate in rat aortic endothelial cells.Methods Rat aortic endothelial cells were cultured in 0.3 mmol/L palmitate for 24 h with or without ghrelin.Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay.Apoptosis was detected using hoechst 33258 and annexin V-FITC/PI double staining assay.Spectrofluorometer assay was used to detect caspase-3 activity.Western Blot analysis was used to examine the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.Results Exposure of cells to palmitate decreased cell viability.Palmitate increased cells apoptosis to 30.03%(P<0.01) compared with the control group(5.01%).Palmitate increased caspase-3 activity and decreased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.While ghrelin dose dependently increased cell viability.10 nmol/L was the minimum effective level.100 nmol/L was the most significant level.Ghrelin inhibited palmitate-induced apoptosis rate to 10.03% in endothelial cells(P<0.05) compared with the palmitate group.Ghrelin decreased caspase-3 activity and increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio at the same time.Conclusions Ghrelin inhibits palmitate-induced apoptosis.Ghrelin may be a protective factor against palmitate-induced endothelial injury.