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Measurement of pre- and post-synaptic proteins in cerebral cortex: Effects of post-mortem delay

Wilcock, Gordon Keith; Dawbarn, David; Siew, Lai Khai; Love, Seth; Allen, Shelley Jane

Authors

Gordon Keith Wilcock

David Dawbarn

Lai Khai Siew

Seth Love

Shelley Jane Allen



Abstract

Assessments of synaptic density in human brain are often based on measurements of synaptic proteins. Little information is available on their post-mortem stability. We have investigated this by ELISAs of the pre-synaptic proteins syntaxin and synaptophysin, and the post-synaptic protein PSD-95, in rat and human cortex. The rat brains were cooled in situ from 37 to 20 or 4°C over 3 h, and then kept at 20 or 4°C for a further 24-72 h, to simulate post-mortem storage at room temperature or in a mortuary refrigerator. Synaptophysin and PSD-95 levels in rat cerebral cortex were not significantly decreased after 72 h of incubation at 20°C. Syntaxin was stable for 24 h but decreased by 39-44% at 48-72 h. Storage at 4°C resulted in a similar reduction of syntaxin levels over 72 h. In human brain tissue from 160 people aged 24-102 years, post-mortem delay had little effect on synaptic protein levels in superior temporal cortex, but was associated with a decline in PSD-95 and syntaxin in mid-frontal cortex after 24 h. The more robust stability of synaptophysin may be related to its multi-transmembrane structure. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Wilcock, G. K., Dawbarn, D., Siew, L. K., Love, S., & Allen, S. J. (2004). Measurement of pre- and post-synaptic proteins in cerebral cortex: Effects of post-mortem delay. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 139(2), 153-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2004.04.020

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Oct 30, 2004
Journal Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Print ISSN 0165-0270
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Not Peer Reviewed
Volume 139
Issue 2
Pages 153-159
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2004.04.020
Keywords pre- and post-synaptic proteins, cerebral cortex, post-mortem delay
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1063300
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2004.04.020


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