Endogenous alpha-synuclein influences the number of dopaminergic neurons in mouse substantia nigra

Exp Neurol. 2013 Oct:248:541-5. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.07.015. Epub 2013 Aug 8.

Abstract

The presynaptic protein α-synuclein is central to the pathogenesis of α-synucleinopathies. We show that the presence of endogenous mouse α-synuclein leads to higher number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of wild-type C57Bl/6J mice compared with C57Bl/6S mice with a spontaneous deletion of the α-synuclein gene or C57Bl/6J mice with a targeted deletion of the α-synuclein gene. This effect of α-synuclein on dopaminergic neuron occurs during development between E10.5 and E13.5 and persists in adult life supporting the involvement of α-synuclein in the development of a subset of dopaminergic neurons.

Keywords: Dopaminergic; Embryonic development; Parkinson's disease; Transgenic mouse; α-Synuclein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Count
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / cytology*
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Substantia Nigra / cytology*
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • alpha-Synuclein / genetics
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism*

Substances

  • alpha-Synuclein