Effects of sodium butyrate on mouse neuroblastoma cells in culture

Uncloned and cloned mouse neuroblastoma cells in vitro developed neurite-like processes upon treatment for 48 hr with 10 −6 to 3 × 10 −4 M sodium butyrate. Although treatment with 5 × 10 −4M sodium butyrate caused neurite formation after 18 hr, the per cent of the cells having neurities returned to control level by 48 hr of treatment. Cell division decreased and acetylcholinesterase activity increased with 5 × 10 −4M sodium butyrate; these parameters were unaltered in the presence of 10 −6 or 10 −5M sodium butyrate. Sodium butyrate was more effective than sodium propionate or sodium valerate in causing a decrease in cell division and an increase in acetylcholinesterase activity, and sodium isobutyrate or gamma aminobutyric acid was ineffective. The effects of sodium butyrate on cell division and acetylcholinesterase activity were reversible after treatment was discontinued. It is concluded that the ability of butyrate to stimulate neurite formation at low concentrations is opposed by additional actions on the cell as its concentration is increased.