Alpha-synuclein aggregates are excluded from calbindin-D28k-positive neurons in dementia with Lewy bodies and a unilateral rotenone mouse model

alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) aggregates (Lewy bodies) in Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) may be associated with disturbed calcium homeostasis and oxidative stress. We investigated the interplay between alpha-syn aggregation, expression of the calbindin-D28k (CB) neuronal calcium-buffering protein and oxidative stress, combining immunofluorescence double labelling and Western analysis, and examining DLB and normal human cases and a unilateral oxidative stress lesion model of alpha-syn disease (rotenone mouse). DLB cases showed a greater proportion of CB+ cells in affected brain regions compared to normal cases with Lewy bodies largely present in CB neurons and virtually undetected in CB + neurons. The unilateral rotenone-lesioned mouse model showed a greater proportion of CB + cells and alpha-syn aggregates within the lesioned hemisphere than the control hemisphere, especially proximal to the lesion site, and alpha-syn inclusions occurred primarily in CB cells and were almost completely absent in CB + cells. Consistent with the immunofluorescence data, Western analysis showed the total CB level was 25% higher in lesioned compared to control hemisphere in aged animals that are more sensitive to lesion and 20% higher in aged compared to young mice in lesioned hemisphere, but not significantly different between young and aged in the control hemisphere. Taken together, the findings show alpha-syn aggregation is excluded from CB + neurons, although the increased sensitivity of aged animals to lesion was not related to differential CB expression. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.