International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition

Authors
Eriko Uehara, Hideki Hokazono

Abstract
Multiple physiological effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a functional food ingredient have been reported. However, the effects of GABA on cell proliferation and the expression of myogenic determination gene number 1 (MyoD), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), and myostatin in C2C12 myoblasts have not been reported. In this study, we examined the effects of GABA in myoblasts. In cell counting assays, 100 µg/mL and 1000 µg/mL of GABA significantly increased cell proliferation. In real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting studies, GABA increased mRNA and protein expression of MyoD and PGC-1α in a concentration-dependent manner. Similar experiments also showed that GABA significantly decreased the expression of myostatin mRNA and protein in a concentration-dependent manner, confirming that GABA promotes myoblast proliferation and increases the expression of MyoD and PGC-1α, and decreases the expression of myostatin. These results suggest that GABA may increase or inhibit the decrease in muscle mass.