Brain-derived neurotrophic factor treatment increases the skeletal muscle glucose transporter 4 protein expression in mice

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) treatment induced metabolic adaptations in mouse skeletal muscle. BDNF (20 mg/kg/day) was injected subcutaneously for successive 14 days. BDNF treatment significantly reduced the total food intake and inhibited the weight gain in comparison to the control group. The glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein expression in the gastrocnemius muscle was significantly increased by BDNF treatment in comparison to the control and pair-fed groups. Neither the oxidative nor the glycolytic enzyme activities in the gastrocnemius muscle changed after the BDNF treatment. These results suggest that the peripheral BDNF treatment promotes the skeletal muscle GLUT4 protein expression as well as hypophagia.