Previous studies of the alpha-synuclein null mutant mice on the C57Bl6 genetic background have revealed reduced number of dopaminergic neurons in their substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). However, the presence in genomes of the studied mouse lines of additional genetic modifications that affect expression of genes located in a close proximity to the alpha-synuclein-encoding Snca gene makes these data open to various interpretations. To unambiguously demonstrate that the absence of alpha-synuclein is the primary cause of the observed deficit of dopaminergic neurons, we employed a recently produced constituent alpha-synuclein knockout mouse line B6(Cg)-Snca tm1.2Vlb /J. The only modification introduced to the genome of these mice is a substitution of the first coding exon and adjusted short intronic fragments of the Snca gene by a single loxP site. We compared the number of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc of this line, previously studied B6(Cg)-Snca tm1Rosl /J line and wild type littermate mice. A similar decrease was observed in both knockout lines when compared with wild type mice. In a recently published study we revealed no loss of dopaminergic neurons following conditional inactivation of the Snca gene in neurons of adult mice. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that alpha-synuclein is required for efficient survival or maturation of dopaminergic neurons in the developing SNpc but is dispensable for survival of mature SNpc dopaminergic neurons.

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Multimerin-1 (Mmrn-1) is a soluble protein, also known as elastin microfibril interfacer 4 (EMI-LIN-4), found in platelets and in the endothelium of blood vessels. Its function and role in pathology are still not fully understood. Genetic modifications in alpha-synuclein gene (Snca) locus that mapped 160 Kb apart from Mmrn-1 in mouse genome, could weigh with regulatory elements of Mmrn-1 gene. We have studied the Mmrn-1 expression in brain cortex of three mouse lines with Snca knock-out: B6(Cg)-Snca tm1.2Vlb /J, B6;129-Snca tm1Sud /J, and B6;129X1-Snca tm1Rosl /J. The 35-fold increase for Mmrn-1 mRNA level have been found in B6;129X1-Snca tm1Rosl /J mice that carry in their genome foreign sequences including bacterial gene neo and a strong promoter of a mouse phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk1) oriented towards Mmrn-1 gene. This effect on regulatory elements of Mmrn-1 gene as a result of modifications in Snca locus should be taken into consideration when using B6;129X1-Snca tm1Rosl /J line, that is widely applied for study of neurodegeneration mechanisms.

Lesion of the dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system is a key feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Alpha-synuclein is a protein that is a major component of Lewy bodies, histopathological hallmarks of PD, and is involved in regulation of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission. Previous studies of knockout mice have shown that inactivation of alpha-synuclein gene can lead to the reduction in number of DA neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). DA neurons of the SN are known to be the most affected in PD patients whereas DA neurons of neighboring ventral tegmental area (VTA) are much less susceptible to degeneration. Here we have studied the dynamics of changes in TH-positive cell numbers in the SN and VTA during a critical period of their embryonic development in alpha-synuclein knockout mice. This precise study of DA neurons during development of the SN revealed that not only is the number of DA neurons reduced by the end of the period of ontogenic selection, but that the way these neurons are formed is altered in alpha-synuclein knockout mice. At the same time, DA neurons in the VTA are not affected. Alpha-synuclein exerts a modulating effect on the formation of DA neurons in the SN and has no effect on the formation of DA neurons in VTA, the structure that is much less susceptible to degeneration in a brain with PD, suggesting a potential role of alpha-synuclein in the development of the population of DA neurons in substantia nigra.

Lesion of the dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system is a key feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). Alpha-synuclein is a protein that is a major component of Lewy bodies, histopathological hallmarks of PD, and is involved in regulation of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission. Previous studies of knockout mice have shown that inactivation of alpha-synuclein gene can lead to the reduction in number of DA neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). DA neurons of the SN are known to be the most affected in PD patients whereas DA neurons of neighboring ventral tegmental area (VTA) are much less susceptible to degeneration. Here we have studied the dynamics of changes in TH-positive cell numbers in the SN and VTA during a critical period of their embryonic development in alpha-synuclein knockout mice. This precise study of DA neurons during development of the SN revealed that not only is the number of DA neurons reduced by the end of the period of ontogenic selection, but that the way these neurons are formed is altered in alpha-synuclein knockout mice. At the same time, DA neurons in the VTA are not affected. Alpha-synuclein exerts a modulating effect on the formation of DA neurons in the SN and has no effect on the formation of DA neurons in VTA, the structure that is much less susceptible to degeneration in PD brain, suggesting a potential role of alpha-synuclein in the development of the population of DA neurons in substantia nigra.

In the present study we analyzed uptake of radiolabeled dopamine by intact synaptosomes and purified synaptic vesicles isolated from the dorsal striatum of mice with constitutive inactivation of all three synuclein-coding genes and wild type mice. Synuclein deficiency substantially compromised the uptake of this neurotransmitter by synaptic vesicles whereas had no effect on synaptosomal dopamine uptake.

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Целью данной работы являлась оценка выживаемости популяции зрелых дофаминергических (ДА-ергических) нейронов чёрной субстанции двух альфа-синуклеин нокаутных линий мышей Abel-KO и ΔFlox-KO, а также бессинуклеиновых животных abg-КО в условиях МФТП-токсического моделирования паркинсонического синдрома. Методы исследования: Водный раствор нейротоксина МФТП вводили 3-месячным мышам внутрибрюшинно в дозе 30 мг/кг ежедневно в течение 5 дней по субхроническому протоколу. Через 21 день после последней инъекции МФТП у животных извлекали головной мозг, фиксировали в холодном растворе Карнуа и парафинизировали для последующего приготовления гистологических препаратов на ротационном микротоме Leica RM2265 (Leica Biosystems, Германия). Иммуногистохимическое окрашивание проводили антителами против тирозингидроксилазы (моноклональные антитела мыши, Sigma, разведение 1:2000). Сравнительный морфометрический анализ популяции ДА-ергических нейронов чёрной субстанции выполнен с учётом поправки Аберкромби. Результаты: Установлено, что в условиях дефицита альфа-синуклеина мыши устойчивы к потере ДА-ергических нейронов в компактной части ЧС после введения МФТП. При генетической делеции всех трёх синуклеинов чувствительность ДА-ергических нейронов ЧС к токсическому действию МФТП не отличается от таковой у животных с немодифицированным геномом. Заключение. На основании проведённого морфометрического анализа предполагается, что особенности чувствительности к нейротоксину МФТП у альфа-синуклеин нокаутных линий мышей обусловлены повышением функциональной активности (замещением) бета-синуклеина, оптимизирующего захват ДА синаптическими везикулами. The aim of this study was to assess survival of mature dopaminergic (DAergic) neuronal population in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of two alpha-synuclein knockout mice strains (Abel-KO and ΔFlox-KO) and of non-synuclein animals (abg-KO) in MPTP-induced parkinsonism. Material and methods: MPTP water solution was administered to 3-month-old mice intraperitoneally (30 mg/kg daily for 5 days) according to a subchronic protocol. On the 21st day after the last MPTP injection, the brain was excised, fixed in cold Carnoy’s solution and paraffined for the subsequent preparation of histological samples on a Leica RM2265 rotary microtome (Leica Biosystems, Germany). Immunohistochemical staining was performed with antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase (mouse monoclonal antibodies, Sigma, dilution 1:2000). A comparative morphometric analysis of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons was performed using the Abercrombie correction. Results: MPTP-treated alpha-synuclein deficient mice were resistant to the loss of DAergic neurons in the SNpc. Genetic deletion of all three synucleins restored the sensitivity of SNpc DAergic neurons to the MPTP toxicity, which did not differ from the sensitivity of wild type animals. Conclusion: Based on the morphometric analysis, it was assumed that the specific features of MPTP sensitivity in alpha-synuclein knockout mice are due to an increased functional activity (substitution) of beta-synuclein, which optimizes the capture of DA by synaptic vesicles.