Beschreibung:
<jats:p>Inducible expression of the group‐I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGlu1α) in Chinese hamster ovary cells allows for the study of receptor density dependent effects. However, expression levels attainable with this system are lower than those reported for various brain regions and achieved by conventional (constitutive) transfection. Thus, direct comparison of mGlu1α receptor‐mediated responses in this inducible expression system with those for receptors expressed heterologously or <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> is compounded. We show here that inducible expression can be selectively augmented by butyrate pretreatment to levels approaching those reported for cerebral tissue. Enhanced mGlu1α receptor protein levels, agonist‐induced inositol phosphate accumulation, as well as single‐cell inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate production and intracellular Ca<jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> mobilization occurred following co‐induction with butyrate. In contrast, endogenous purinoceptor function was unaffected. Importantly, the ability to titrate receptor expression by varying isopropyl β‐thiogalactoside concentration was retained. Sodium butyrate thus offers a simple and convenient method to enhance inducible gene expression to levels found <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic>.</jats:p>