title: Challenges and recent advances in mass spectrometric imaging of neurotransmitters.
abstract: Mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool that grants the ability to investigate a broad mass range of molecules, from small molecules to large proteins, by creating detailed distribution maps of selected compounds. To date, MSI has demonstrated its versatility in the study of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides of different classes toward investigation of neurobiological functions and diseases. These studies have provided significant insight in neurobiology over the years and current technical advances are facilitating further improvements in this field. Herein, we briefly review new MSI studies of neurotransmitters, focusing specifically on the challenges and recent advances of MSI of neurotransmitters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705-2222, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gemperline
authors.forename: Bingming
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lingjun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011687:Purines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D003373:Coumaric Acids; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011687:Purines; D000109:Acetylcholine