Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026
07:44
Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
Published on: October 6, 2017
18.4K
Review: Parkinson's disease: from synaptic loss to connectome dysfunction
Arianna Bellucci1, Nicola Biagio Mercuri2, Annalena Venneri3,4
1Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology
|November 28, 2015
Summary
Parkinson's disease involves the loss of dopamine neurons and the buildup of alpha-synuclein. This protein accumulation at synapses impairs neuronal function, leading to neurodegeneration and clinical symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuropathology
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by nigro-striatal dopaminergic neuron loss, causing motor symptoms.
- Nonmotor symptoms (NMS) often precede motor signs in PD.
- Lewy pathology, featuring alpha-synuclein aggregates, is a key neuropathological hallmark.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms of synaptic loss in Parkinson's disease.
- To explore the link between alpha-synuclein pathology and neuronal degeneration.
- To discuss how synaptic dysfunction translates into clinical symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on PD neuropathology and molecular mechanisms.
- Analysis of the role of alpha-synuclein in synaptic function and axonal transport.
- Correlation of functional connectivity changes with disease progression.
Main Results:
- Alpha-synuclein aggregates are predominantly found at presynapses in PD.
- Synaptic and axonal degeneration are linked to alpha-synuclein deposition.
- Altered neurotransmitter release, re-cycling, and synaptic plasticity contribute to neurodegeneration.
Conclusions:
- Alpha-synuclein aggregation at synapses is a critical factor in PD pathogenesis.
- Impaired axonal trafficking and synaptic dysfunction lead to neuronal damage and death.
- Synaptic loss and functional disconnection underlie the clinical manifestations of Parkinson's disease.
More Related Videos
06:07Author Spotlight: Establishing a New Fluorescence-Based Protocol for In Vivo Mitochondrial Morphology Analysis in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: June 23, 2023
2.4K
14:45Analyzing the Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model Induced by Adeno-associated Viral Vectors Encoding Human α-Synuclein
Published on: July 29, 2022
6.8K
Related Concept Videos
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
2.4K
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is...
2.4K
01:37Neural Regulation
44.8K
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
44.8K
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
1.3K
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
1.3K
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
2.0K
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
2.0K
01:22Lysosomal Hydrolases
4.7K
Lysosomes are the site for the degradation of macromolecules and biological polymers released during membrane trafficking events such as secretory, endocytic, autophagic, and phagocytic pathways. The membrane-enclosed area of the lysosome, called the lumen, contains hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment. These acid hydrolases are functional at a pH between 4.5 and 5 and are involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling, energy metabolism, restoration of the plasma membrane,...
4.7K
01:29Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters
14.7K
When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of...
14.7K