Sodium butyrate stimulates somatostatin production by cultured cells.

Expression of the neuropeptide SRIF can be enhanced by sodium butyrate, a known modulator of gene transcription. Two different cell lines, RIN cells (derived from a rat pancreatic islet tumor) as well as HeLa cells, showed basal secretion of SRIF immunoreactive material that was induced between 5- and 15-fold by sodium butyrate. The induction was dose and time dependent, fully reversible, and specific for sodium butyrate. Analysis of the induced mRNAs by Northern blot hybridization using a SRIF specific cDNA probe revealed a 12-fold increase in the level of SRIF mRNA caused by butyrate treatment. These results suggest that sodium butyrate may be a useful tool for studying the regulation of SRIF gene expression.