title: Vulnerability of peripheral catecholaminergic neurons to MPTP is not regulated by alpha-synuclein.
abstract: Although generally considered a prototypical movement disorder, Parkinson's disease is commonly associated with a broad-spectrum of non-motor symptoms, including autonomic dysfunctions caused by significant alterations in catecholaminergic neurons of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. Here we present evidence that alpha-synuclein is highly expressed by sympathetic ganglion neurons throughout embryonic and postnatal life and that it is found in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive sympathetic fibers innervating the heart of adult mice. However, mice deficient in alpha-synuclein do not exhibit any apparent alterations in sympathetic development. Sympathetic neurons isolated from mouse embryos and early postnatal mice are sensitive to the parkinsonian drug MPTP/MPP(+) and intoxication requires entry of the neurotoxin through the noradrenaline transporter. Furthermore, recovery of noradrenaline from cardiac sympathetic fibers is reduced in adult mice treated with MPTP systemically. However, MPP(+)-induced sympathetic neuron loss in vitro or MPTP-induced cardiac noradrenaline depletion in vivo is not modified in mice lacking alpha-synuclein. This is in clear contrast with the observation that dopaminergic neurons of the central nervous system are significantly less vulnerable to MPTP/MPP(+) in the absence of alpha-synuclein, suggesting different actions of this molecule in central and peripheral catecholaminergic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular and CIBER de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Universidad de Valencia, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain.
authors.forename: Marifé
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cano-Jaimez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pérez-Sánchez
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milán
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buendía
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fariñas
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017779:Sympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D009498:Neurotoxins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium