title: Dual asymmetric-flow microdialysis for in vivo monitoring of brain neurochemicals.
abstract: Microdialysis is an extensively used technique for both in vivo and in vitro experiments, applicable to animal and human studies. In neurosciences, the in vivo microdialysis is usually performed to follow changes in the extracellular levels of substances and to monitor neurotransmitters release in the brain of freely moving animals. Catecholamines, such as dopamine and their related compounds, are involved in the neurochemistry and in the physiology of mental diseases and neurological disorders. It is generally supposed that the brain's energy requirement is supplied by glucose oxidation. More recently, lactate was proposed to be the metabolic substrate used by neurons during synaptic activity. In our study, an innovative microdialysis approach for simultaneous monitoring of catecholamines, indolamines, glutamate and energy substrates in the striatum of freely moving rats, using an asymmetric perfusion flow rate on microdialysis probe, is described. As a result of this asymmetric perfusion, two samples are available from the same brain region, having the same analytes composition but different concentrations. The asymmetric flow perfusion could be a useful tool in neurosciences studies related to brain's energy requirement, such as toxin-induced models of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Medical School, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari, Italy. gbazzu@uniss.it
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bazzu
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biosa
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Ylenia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Spissu
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dedola
authors.forename: Giammario
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calia
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Puggioni
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocchitta
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Migheli
authors.forename: Maria Speranza
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Desole
authors.forename: Pier Andrea
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents