In situ exogenous alpha-synuclein aggregates inhibit murine ventricular voltage-gated inward sodium and outward potassium currents

BackgroundAlpha-synuclein is associated with neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent studies have increasingly recognized incidences of cardiac complaints in PD patients. In particular, the occurrence of arrhythmias in PD patients may indicate potential electrophysiological alterations in the heart. Alpha-synuclein aggregates have been known to have disruptive effects on cell membranes. However, the effect of alpha-synuclein on the heart and sympathetic neuronal tissues remains unknown.ObjectiveThis study investigated the electrophysiological effects of alpha-synuclein aggregates in myocardium and cardiac sympathetic nervous system, potentially reflecting cardiac electrophysiological alteration in PD.MethodsWe measured the <i>in situ</i> sodium and potassium currents from murine ventricular myocardium and stellate ganglia using the loose patch clamp technique. The tissues were exposed to bioactive alpha-synuclein aggregates, and currents were measured under three different conditions: baseline, alpha-synuclein treatment, and wash out.ResultsThe experiments showed that alpha-synuclein aggregates altered the maximum cardiac sodium current (<i>I</i>_Na(Max)) (ANOVA, p < 0.008) and affected its gating properties for channel activation (ANOVA <i>F</i>_2,54 = 6.408, <i>p</i> = 0.003) and inactivation (<i>F</i>_{2, 67} = 6.32, <i>p</i> = 0.003). The alpha-synuclein aggregates also reduced the maximum outward potassium current (<i>I</i>_K(Max)) during channel activation (<i>F</i>_{2, 77} = 6.02, <i>p</i> = 0.002). However, the alpha-synuclein aggregates did not affect the ionic currents in the stellate ganglia.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that extracellular alpha-synuclein aggregates can inhibit ventricular but not stellate ganglion ionic currents, suggesting a differential sensitivity between the myocardium and the stellate ganglia, and indicating a cardiac-specific toxicity of alpha-synuclein on cardiac electrophysiology.