In Vivo Monitoring of Neurotransmitters with Voltammetry and Smallbore HPLC

Abstract

The temporal and concentration response of microdialysis probes in vivo was characterized. The temporal response was monitored using step changes in dopamine (DA) concentration which were followed with one minute sampling using smallbore HPLC. The response under three conditions was examined: in vitro sampling of DA, in vitro infusion of DA, and local infusion of DA. The dialysate DA concentration stabilized within two minutes after each change. These results suggest that relatively fast changes in DA levels in tissue can be followed by microdialysis probes. The rapid stabilization also suggests that the DA concentration profile does not extend very far from the probe. To characterize the concentration response, the linearity of the gain or loss of DA diffusing between the probe and tissue was determined. The difference in the inflow and outflow concentrations was plotted as a function of the inflow concentration. The correlation coefficient of the linear regression curve was 0.99. The zero point intercept, the extracellular concentration of DA, was 3.8 nM and the slope, or recovery, was 63.4%. There was no break at the zero point which is indicative of symmetrical diffusion into and out of the probe.