One of the most fundamental questions related to the progressive nature of neurodegeneration in human disease is how neurons die. Protecting nerve cells against morphological decline and death requires blocking intrinsic factors that inhibit neural repair. In the present proposal, we offer an innovative approach to study those factors that are active in Parkinson's disease (PD) in a new mouse model that shows synaptic loss and irreversible nigrostriatal degeneration. We propose to track changes of a key synaptic protein, a-synuclein, both in its native environment at presynaptic terminals and under neurotoxic conditions, when it becomes insoluble and accumulates. We will further correlate those changes with altered neurotrophic support. We have established an animal protocol by treating C57/bl mice with a combined regimen of 10 doses of probenecid at 250mg/kg and MPTP at 25mg/kg for 5 weeks. These mice show a slow, progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic function for at least 6 months, that mimics PD, with no signs of recovery. Three weeks after drug treatment, there is a significant reduction in the number of substantia nigra (SN) cells and dramatic changes in the subsynaptic distribution and density of a-synuclein-immunoreactive terminals. These changes could signal the beginning of a chain of events that leads to cell death. In this proposal, we will focus on the progressive deterioration of dopaminergic neurons in the SN and their inputs, and present three specific aims to be addressed through a series of hypotheses. Specifically, we plan to 1) ascertain the origin and neurochemical phenotype of synapses in the SN that contain a-synuclein and to establish whether MPTP + probenecid treatment leads to their degeneration; 2) determine, in the MPTP+P model, the temporal relationships between cell death and a-synuclein-positive synapses, decline in dopamine function and behavior; and 3) ascertain whether changes in a-synuclein expression and production are precipitated by altered neurotrophic support. The overall objective of our research is to understand the relationship between the synaptic protein, a-synuclein, neurotrophic support, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and their respective roles in the PD form of neurodegeneration. The findings of this research should shed light on target areas where neuroprotection strategies can be implemented.
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