Effects of DL‐alpha‐tocopheryl succinate in combination with sodium butyrate and camp stimulating agent on neuroblastoma cells in culture

The effect of dl‐alpha‐tocopheryl (vitamin E) succinate in combination with Prostaglandin A 2 (PGA 2 ) and sodium butyrate on mouse neuroblastoma cells (NBP 2 ) in culture, according to the criteria of growth inhibition and morphological differentiation (neurite formation), was studied. Results showed that PGA 2 and sodium butyrate inhibited the growth of NB cells in a dose‐dependent manner. The combined effects of vitamin E succinate with PGA 2 or sodium butyrate, according to the criterion of growth inhibition, were additive. Vitamin E succinate by itself did not induce morphological differentiation, but it enhanced PGA 2 ‐induced morphological differentiation. Sodium butyrate alone or in combination with vitamin E succinate did not significantly increase the level of morphological differentiation. Sodium succinate and an equal amount of solvent (ethanol) failed to modify the effect of PGA 2 or sodium butyrate. This suggests that the effect of vitamin E succinate in modifying the response of PGA 2 and sodium butyrate on NB cells is due to the effect of vitamin E rather than to that of succinate.