Fig. 8
From: A novel structure associated with aging is augmented in the DPP6-KO mouse brain
A summary drawing of a NeuN + punctum showing how the various synapse-related and AD-related proteins appear to be arranged. It is based on both the data presented and the published literature. It is portrayed as a presynaptic terminal swelling that forms synapses with two postsynaptic spines (black band represents the postsynaptic density); the left spine is shown extending from its parent dendrite. Microtubules in the axon and dendrite are illustrated with thick black lines and neurofilaments in the swelling are illustrated with thin black lines. The dendrite has a normal mitochondrion (teal color) with distinct cristae (curved lines) while the mitochondrion in the swelling is shown as a dysmorphic (deteriorating) one with indistinct cristae. The main portion of the abnormal terminal swelling is filled with NeuN, synaptophysin, and chromogranin A, while other proteins are concentrated more on the periphery, either in the dwindling presynaptic terminal active zones or the associated postsynaptic structures