Testosterone regulates alpha-synuclein mRNA in the avian song system

alpha -Synuclein is a small, highly conserved protein in vertebrates that h as been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases. The avian song contro l system is one of the model systems in which the protein was independently discovered. alpha -synuclein is dynamically regulated in the song system d uring song learning, a process in which sex steroids play a central role. W e compared alpha -synuclein mRNA expression in the brains of 12 adult male chipping sparrows (Spizella passerina) treated with either testosterone or blank s.c. implants. We saw pronounced upregulation of alpha -synuclein mRN A in, as well as an increase in the volume of, the song control nucleus are a X in response to exogenous testosterone. To our knowledge this is the fir st report of steroid regulation of synuclein gene expression in any model s ystem. NeuroReport 12:943-946 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.