Role of Ca2+ in induction of neurotransmitter-related gene expression by butyrate

We examined the effect of butyrate on neurotransmitter-related gene expression and calcium homeostasis in PC12 cells. Pretreatment with Ca chelators (EGTA or BAPTA-AM) attenuated the butyrate-triggered accumulation of TH and ppEnk mRNA indicating that Ca plays a role in butyrate-induced regulation of neuronal genes. Butyrate alone did not alter intracellular Ca levels as determined by Fura-PE3 fluorescence; however, pretreatment with butyrate (18–24 h) reduced the first Ca peak and prevented the second sustained rise in [Ca]i as induced by nicotine or ryanodine. In contrast, butyrate had no effect on Ca transients when added shortly before or during nicotine or ryanodine stimulation. These results suggest that chronic butyrate exposure can modulate cell responses by affecting intracellular Ca signaling.