Journal article
Enhanced Spine Stability and Survival Lead to Increases in Dendritic Spine Density as an Early Response to Local Alpha-Synuclein Overexpression in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex
Cellular and molecular neurobiology, Vol.44(1), 42
04/26/2024
DOI: 10.1007/s10571-024-01472-7
PMCID: PMC11052719
PMID: 38668880
Abstract
Lewy Body Dementias (LBD), including Parkinson's disease dementia and Dementia with Lewy Bodies, are characterized by widespread accumulation of intracellular alpha-Synuclein protein deposits in regions beyond the brainstem, including in the cortex. However, the impact of local pathology in the cortex is unknown. To investigate this, we employed viral overexpression of human alpha-Synuclein protein targeting the mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC). We then used in vivo 2-photon microscopy to image awake head-fixed mice via an implanted chronic cranial window to assess the early consequences of alpha-Synuclein overexpression in the weeks following overexpression. We imaged apical tufts of Layer V pyramidal neurons in the PFC of Thy1-YFP transgenic mice at 1-week intervals from 1 to 2 weeks before and 9 weeks following viral overexpression, allowing analysis of dynamic changes in dendritic spines. We found an increase in the relative dendritic spine density following local overexpression of alpha-Synuclein, beginning at 5 weeks post-injection, and persisting for the remainder of the study. We found that alpha-Synuclein overexpression led to an increased percentage and longevity of newly-persistent spines, without significant changes in the total density of newly formed or eliminated spines. A follow-up study utilizing confocal microscopy revealed that the increased spine density is found in cortical cells within the alpha-Synuclein injection site, but negative for alpha-Synuclein phosphorylation at Serine-129, highlighting the potential for effects of dose and local circuits on spine survival. These findings have important implications for the physiological role and early pathological stages of alpha-Synuclein in the cortex.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Enhanced Spine Stability and Survival Lead to Increases in Dendritic Spine Density as an Early Response to Local Alpha-Synuclein Overexpression in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex
- Creators
- Peter J Bosch - University of IowaGemma Kerr - University of IowaRachel Cole - University of IowaCharles A Warwick - University of IowaLinder H Wendt - University of IowaAkash Pradeep - University of IowaEmma Bagnall - University of IowaGeorgina M Aldridge - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Cellular and molecular neurobiology, Vol.44(1), 42
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10571-024-01472-7
- PMID
- 38668880
- PMCID
- PMC11052719
- ISSN
- 0272-4340
- eISSN
- 1573-6830
- Grant note
- K08 NS109287 / NIH HHS R01 NS129711 / NIH HHS UM1TR004403 / NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/26/2024
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9984618195202771
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