GDNF is a neurotrophic factor that enhances survival and morphological differentiation of dopaminergic neurons and increases high-affinity dopamine uptake 1. It signals by binding to its coreceptor GFRA1, leading to RET receptor autophosphorylation and activation 2. GDNF is involved in neural crest development 3 and plays crucial roles in renal development and spermatogonia differentiation 4. Beyond dopaminergic neuroprotection, GDNF regulates serotonergic neuron growth and 5-HT system gene expression 5. In reproductive contexts, GDNF enhances human oocyte maturation through miR-145-5p downregulation in cumulus cells 6, though BMP6 suppresses GDNF expression via SMAD1/5 and ERK1/2 pathways 7. Clinically, GDNF mutations cause Hirschsprung disease and developmental abnormalities 48. Gene variants associate with gambling addiction, attributable to dopaminergic pathway involvement 9. Pathologically, GDNF promotes pancreatic cancer perineural invasion through exosomal miR-211-5p sponging 10, and elevated GDNF isoform expression correlates with glioma migration capacity 11. These findings suggest GDNF's dual role as neuroprotective agent and potential oncogenic contributor in distinct disease contexts.