2026-10-12T20:28:59Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33971665 2026-09-23T07:31:45Z category_12 portal_316 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Table 1_From retina to brain: retinal dysfunction and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Drosophila models of Parkinson’s disease.docx Justyna Kadłuczka (25095124) Jakub Dymek (14421777) Elżbieta Pyza (3746302) Milena Damulewicz (349123) Cell Biology dopaminergic (DA) neuron Drosophila melanogaster parkin retina synuclein alpha (SNCA) <p>Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra pars compacta. Although PD is primarily defined as a motor disorder, prodromal non-motor symptoms - such as circadian clock desynchronization and sleep disturbances - can emerge years before clinical diagnosis. Increasing evidence suggests that these non-motor manifestations, particularly circadian disruption, may contribute to disease progression. However, it remains unclear whether circadian dysfunction actively drives neurodegeneration or arises as a consequence of ongoing neuronal loss. In this study, we employed genetic models of PD in Drosophila melanogaster to investigate these relationships. Specifically, we examined the effects of parkin (park) silencing and neuronal expression of human α-Synuclein on photoreceptor morphology and function. Furthermore, we assessed whether mitophagy impairment or synucleinopathy confined to the visual system can influence the onset and progression of PD-related phenotypes. Given that sleep fragmentation is a common feature in PD patients, we also analyzed sleep patterns in flies, focusing on sleep duration. In parallel, we evaluated dopaminergic neuron degeneration, with particular emphasis on the protocerebral anterior medial (PAM) cluster, which plays a critical role in the regulation of sleep and locomotor activity. Taken together, our findings highlight the importance of elucidating the interplay between retinal cells disruption and neurodegeneration in deeper parts of the brain in Parkinson’s disease.</p> 2026-09-23T07:31:45Z Dataset Dataset 10.3389/fcell.2026.1929128.s002 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Table_1_From_retina_to_brain_retinal_dysfunction_and_dopaminergic_neurodegeneration_in_Drosophila_models_of_Parkinson_s_disease_docx/33971665 CC BY 4.0