Fig. 6
From: Uncoupling neuronal death and dysfunction in Drosophila models of neurodegenerative disease
TEM of the Drosophila lamina (a, Rh1-GAL4 / +) highlights photoreceptor synaptic terminals (dashed black outline) arrayed into cartridges (white outline). Ultrastructural evidence of synaptotoxic mechanisms is seen in Rh1 > Tau b, and Rh1 > αSyn d flies at 10 days, but not in Rh1 > Aß c. Insets show higher power views of synaptic terminal contents, revealing apparent enlargement and heterogeneous morphology of synaptic vesicles in Rh1 > αSyn (compare panel d inset with a and c). e-f Quantification of ultrastructural features based on electromicrographs from 3 distinct animals per genotype. Due to architectural disorganization and altered morphologic appearance, it was not possible to quantify synaptic terminal features in Rh1 > Tau animals. e αSyn induces an enlargement in synaptic terminal area. Total number synaptic terminals quantified (genotype, n): Rh1-GAL4/+, 201; Rh1 > Aß, 182; and Rh1 > αSyn, 185. f Decreased synaptic vesicle density following αSyn expression. Synaptic vesicles were quantified per photoreceptor terminal area (n / μm2). Scale bars: 1 μm (main panel), 0.2 μm (inset). All statistical comparisons were implemented using a two-tailed student’s t-test. **, p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001