Progressive vulnerability of cortical synapses in α-synucleinopathy

ABSTRACT α-Synuclein aggregates are a hallmark of multiple neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Cortical pathology in these diseases correlates with cognitive decline. This pathology may progressively impact synaptic connectivity, and we tested this in the frontal cortex in a α-synucleinopathy model. High-resolution imaging showed that intracortical VGLUT1-positive excitatory synapses became increasingly vulnerable, exhibiting early loss near aggregates. The remaining intracortical excitatory synapses were structurally disrupted as measured by high-resolution imaging and electron microscopy. These effects were accompanied by synaptic α-syn accumulation. Ontology analysis of gene expression changes in pathology-bearing neurons showed altered synapse-related processes, with upregulated genes indicating candidate resilience mechanisms. Analyses informed by neuroanatomical connectivity provided additional insights. Mesoscans determined that synapse loss is correlated between cortical layer V and layer II/III, which includes neurons projecting to layer V. Analysis across cortical hemispheres supported a vulnerability of intratelencephalic (IT) projection neurons in layer V. In contrast to intracortical synapses, long-range VGLUT2+ excitatory synapses were spared. Inhibitory VGAT+ synapses were modestly impacted, with a late-stage reduction in postsynaptic specializations. Electrophysiological recordings validated impaired excitatory transmission. This study reveals progressive, synapse-type specific vulnerabilities and resilience and characterizes intracortical synapses as cellular locus of disrupted connectivity in α-synucleinopathy.