Figure 5

Effect of alpha-synuclein (ASYN) monomers/ oligomers on sympathetic neurons. (A) Representative confocal images of sympathetic neurons treated with ASYN monomers (upper, row) or oligomers (lower row) for one week. TH staining is shown in violet and the mitochodrial network is stained with Mitotracker (red) (B) Schematic illustration of the experimental process. In a Campenot chamber, sympathetic axons grow under the divider into the next compartment and both compartments are bath in different non-mixing media. ASYN oligomers are administered on the axonal site and ASYN is retrogradelly transported into the soma. (C) Differences in the mitochondrial membrane potential (red) between sympathetic neurons in which Alexa-488-tagged ASYN (green) was up taken in the axons and retrogradelly transported to the soma (upper left neurons) and sympathetic neurons with no up taken ASYN (lower right neurons). Scale bar in all images: 20 µm.