β-突触核蛋白,突触核蛋白家族的一员,在神经系统中经常与α-突触核蛋白共表达,其中它用于抑制神经退行性疾病中α-突触核蛋白的异常聚集。除了它在病理条件下的作用,β-突触核蛋白独立于α-突触核蛋白发挥各种功能。在我们的调查中,我们发现,与α-突触核蛋白相比,β-突触核蛋白在小鼠视网膜中的表达范围更广.这种广泛的模式暗示了它在视网膜中的潜在意义。通过光和电子显微镜免疫细胞化学的详细检查,我们确定了从感光细胞的内段(IS)和外段(OS)到神经节细胞层(GCL)的β-突触核蛋白表达。我们的发现揭示了独特的特征,包括视锥细胞的β-突触核蛋白免疫反应性IS和OS,锥蒂中的表达高于杆状球,水平细胞中不存在,在锥形双极树突和胞体中的有限表达,在锥形双极端子中的表达更高,存在于大多数无长突细胞中,并且在GCL中几乎大多数体细胞中表达,而内在光敏性视网膜神经节细胞(ipRGC)过程中不存在。值得注意的是,所有胆碱能无长突细胞表达高β-但不表达α-突触核蛋白,而多巴胺能无长突细胞仅表达α-突触核蛋白。这些独特的表达模式为进一步探索β-突触核蛋白的功能及其在视网膜内突触核蛋白病理学中的潜在作用提供了有价值的见解。
β-synuclein, a member of the synuclein family, is frequently co-expressed with α-synuclein in the neural system, where it serves to inhibit abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein in neurodegenerative diseases. Beyond its role in pathological conditions, β-synuclein plays various functions independently of α-synuclein. In our investigation, we discovered a broader expression of β-synuclein in the mouse retina compared to α-synuclein. This widespread pattern implies its potential significance in the retina. Through detailed examination via light- and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry, we identified β-synuclein expression from the inner segment (IS) and outer segment (OS) of photoreceptor cells to the ganglion cell layer (GCL). Our findings unveiled unique features, including β-synuclein immunoreactive IS and OS of cones, higher expression in cone pedicles than in rod spherules, absence in horizontal cells, limited expression in cone bipolar dendrites and somas, higher expression in cone bipolar terminals, presence in most amacrine cells, and expression in almost majority of somas in GCL with an absence in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell (ipRGCs) processes. Notably, all cholinergic amacrine cells express high β- but not α-synuclein, while dopaminergic amacrine cells express α-synuclein exclusively. These distinctive expression patterns offer valuable insights for further exploration into the functions of β-synuclein and its potential role in synuclein pathology within the retina.