Using the whole-cell voltage-clamp method to measure ATP-sensitive K⁺(K_ATP) currents, changes in cell capacitance to measure secretion and microfluorimetry to monitor intracellular Ca²⁺ and mitochondrial function, we have investigated the direct effect of sulphonylureas on exocytosis in pancreatic β-cells. Tolbutamide (100 µM) and 100 nM 4-β-12-phorbolmyristate-13-acetate (PMA), which activates the protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms found in β-cells, potentiated exocytosis in a non-additive manner. These effects were blocked by down-regulation of PKC. Our data support the idea that tolbutamide can potentiate secretion from β-cells via a PKC-dependent pathway. Because PKC and sulphonylureas can modulate the activity of K_ATP channels, we explored whether the above effects are caused by inhibition of this channel. PMA increased whole-cell K_ATP currents but did not affect their sensitivity to tolbutamide. Down-regulation of PKC affected neither the magnitude nor the tolbutamide sensitivity of the K_ATP current. Both tolbutamide and the mitochondrial uncoupler FCCP (1 µM) mobilized intracellular Ca²⁺ and prolonged Ca²⁺ transients elicited by cholinergic mobilization of intracellular Ca²⁺ stores. Tolbutamide (0.1–0.5 mM), like FCCP, depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential and activated K_ATP currents. We suggest that sulphonylureas can directly potentiate exocytosis by impairing mitochondrial function and Ca²⁺ handling, which ultimately leads to activation of Ca²⁺-dependent enzymes such as PKC.