Effects of Creatine, Leucine, and Ethanol on Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in C2C12 Skeletal Muscle Cells

Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) is a protein expressed throughout the mammalian nervous system that serves several protective functions. Originally discovered in the brain, where it supports the survival of dopaminergic neurons, GDNF has since been shown to be expressed in skeletal muscle and is vital for the maintenance of motor neurons. The relationship between muscle hypertrophy, and GDNF is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between hypertrophy and GDNF by inducing hypertrophy in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells using leucine and creatine, inhibiting hypertrophy using ethanol and measuring GDNF content. As measured by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay, GDNF content was reduced following all treatments, therefore a clear relationship between hypertrophy and GDNF content could not be established.