Construction of 1 mm microdialysis probe for amino acids dialysis in rats

Waleed M. Renno, Mary A. Mullet, Frank G. Williams, Alvin J. Beitz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe here a microdialysis probe with 1 mm opening for precise and confined dialysis area in the awake, freely moving rat. This probe is designed to allow the local diffusion of the perfusion medium to an area approximately 175 μm high, 266 μm wide (mediolateral direction), and 305 μm in rostrocaudal direction. In addition, the probe allows the local application of drugs to the same precise area of interest. The probe was constructed from a piece of 25 gauge tubing with 1 mm hallowed opening located 0.5 mm from the distal (inserting) end. The dialysis fiber which was inserted into the stainless steel 25 gauge tubing and cemented into place has 200 μm diameter and 5000 molecular weight cut off. We tested the probe diffusion extent by direct infusion of fluorogold through the dialysis cannula. Changes in the extracellular concentrations of amino acids were measured in response to infusion of veratridine a sodium channel activator. All amino acids tested showed a significant 80% times decrease in their recovery concentration when compared to their respective concentrations recovered through 2 mm probe constructed earlier in our laboratory (Renno et al., 1992). Tests in awake rats with probes in the ventrocaudal PAG showed stable amounts of 12 different amino acids during repeated (6-8 times) 12 min samples at 3-5 μl/min collecting rate. Depolarization with 75 μM veratridine resulted in significant elevation in extracellular γ- aminobutyric acid (GABA), aspartate, glutamate, taurine, glycine and citrulline. This design enables us to apply drugs of interest and measure the concentrations of amino acid neurotransmitters to a more precise, delineated and premeasured areas in the CNS.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)217-228
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neuroscience Methods
Volume79
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 20 1998

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank Lorraine Wellman and Joan Huttman for their excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by NIH grants DA06687, DE06682 and NS28016.

Keywords

  • Amino acids
  • Central gray
  • Microdialysis probe
  • Periaqueductal gray

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Construction of 1 mm microdialysis probe for amino acids dialysis in rats'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this