Indeed, bilateral administration of GDNF into the tibialis anterior, the forelimb triceps brachii and into the long muscles of the dorsal trunk in a familiar rat model of ALS, preserves the NMJ, promotes MN function and survival [72], and muscle-specific GDNF overexpression increases the lifespan of an ALS mouse model [73]. The gene discussed is GDNF; the disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.