Age-dependent α-synuclein aggregation in the Microcebus murinus lemur primate

Sci Rep. 2012:2:910. doi: 10.1038/srep00910. Epub 2012 Nov 30.

Abstract

Since age-dependent deposition of Aβ-amyloid has been reported in the Microcebusmurinus, we posited that this animal could as well be a model of age-related synucleinopathy. We characterized the distribution of Aβ-amyloid, α-synuclein and two of its modified forms in the brain of Microcebusmurinus aged from 1.5 to 10 years. Intracytoplasmic α-synuclein aggregates were observed only in aged animals in different brain regions, which were also phospho-Ser129 and nitrated α-synuclein immunoreactive. Age-dependent α-synuclein aggregation occurs spontaneously in mouse lemur primates. Microcebus murinus may provide a model to study age-associated α-synucleinopathy and for testing putative therapeutic interventions for both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / metabolism*
  • Aging / pathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cheirogaleidae
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism*
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Folding
  • alpha-Synuclein / chemistry
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • alpha-Synuclein