Abnormal α-Synuclein Aggregates Cause Synaptic- and Microcircuit-Specific Deficits in the Retinal Rod Pathway

α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is a key determinator of Parkinson disease (PD) pathology, but synapse and microcircuit pathologies in the retina underlying visual dysfunction are poorly understood. Using the old transgenic M83 PD model (mice aged 16 to 18 months) coupled with histochemical and ultrastructura l analyses and ophthalmologic measurements, we revealed that abnormal α-Syn aggregation in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) was associated with degeneration in the CtBP2+ ribbon synapses of photoreceptor terminals and protein kinase Cα+ rod bipolar cell terminals, whereas α-Syn aggregates in the i nner retina correlated with the reduction and degeneration of tyrosine hydroxylase– and parvalbumin-positive amacrine cells.
Source: American Journal of Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Tags: Regular article Source Type: research