Zhong Wenhui, Chen Zhongqun, Wang Shaoxuan, Cao Jun, Lin Xin, Lai Xiaoqian, Rao Bilin, Zhang Jun
State Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China.
Brain Struct Funct. 2025 Jul 17;230(7):120. doi: 10.1007/s00429-025-02984-8.
The synuclein family comprises three presynaptic proteins-alpha-synuclein (α-Syn), beta-synuclein (β-Syn), and gamma-synuclein (γ-Syn)-which are crucial for synaptic transmission. Our previous studies have detailed the precise cellular and subcellular localization of α- and β-Syn in the adult mouse retina, revealing distinct expression patterns in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic elements. The balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) is critical for neural development in the mouse retina. Here, we employed light-microscopic immunocytochemistry to investigate the expression of α- and β-Syn in the developing mouse retina, examining from embryonic day 13.5 to postnatal day 21 (E13.5, E16.5, E19.5, P1, P7, P10, P14, and P21). We revealed distinct developmental expression patterns across these stages. We found that α-Syn was first detected at E13.5, whereas β-Syn expression appeared later at E16.5. After E16.5, β-Syn exhibited a broader expression profile compared to α-Syn. Consistent with findings in the adult retina, α-Syn was confined to inhibitory synapses, while β-Syn was present in both excitatory and inhibitory synapses during development. These unique expression patterns of α- and β-Syn in the developing retina suggest potential roles in modulating excitatory and inhibitory inputs during retinal maturation. Furthermore, this research may contribute to understanding the broader role of α- and β-Syn in neural development within the central nervous system.
突触核蛋白家族由三种突触前蛋白组成，即α-突触核蛋白（α-Syn）、β-突触核蛋白（β-Syn）和γ-突触核蛋白（γ-Syn），它们对突触传递至关重要。我们之前的研究详细阐述了α-和β-Syn在成年小鼠视网膜中的精确细胞和亚细胞定位，揭示了在兴奋性和抑制性突触元件中的不同表达模式。内网状层（IPL）中兴奋性和抑制性神经递质之间的平衡对小鼠视网膜的神经发育至关重要。在这里，我们采用光学显微镜免疫细胞化学方法研究α-和β-Syn在发育中小鼠视网膜中的表达，研究时间从胚胎第13.5天到出生后第21天（E13.5、E16.5、E19.5、P1、P7、P10、P14和P21）。我们揭示了这些阶段不同的发育表达模式。我们发现α-Syn在E13.5首次被检测到，而β-Syn的表达在E16.5出现得较晚。在E16.5之后，与α-Syn相比，β-Syn表现出更广泛的表达谱。与成年视网膜中的发现一致，α-Syn局限于抑制性突触，而β-Syn在发育过程中存在于兴奋性和抑制性突触中。α-和β-Syn在发育中的视网膜中的这些独特表达模式表明它们在视网膜成熟过程中调节兴奋性和抑制性输入方面可能发挥作用。此外，这项研究可能有助于理解α-和β-Syn在中枢神经系统神经发育中的更广泛作用。
