Abstract
Electroanalytical techniques for the in vivo measurement of neurotransmitters in brain tissue have been applied especially to the catecholamines, which are easily oxidizable1–6. Measurements are, however, complicated by the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) in brain tissue1,3–6. Lane et al.7 have been able to circumvent this problem, at least in part, by the application of differential pulse voltametry (DPV) to a surface-modified platinum electrode, obtaining distinct oxidation current peaks in recordings from the rat neostriatum which are attributed to AA and to dopamine (DA), respectively, but which are also unstable. We have recently described a new type of electrode2,8, consisting of a pyrolytic carbon fibre 8 µm thick and 0.5 mm long. We now report that the DPV method used in conjunction with an electrochemical treatment of this electrode yields stable and reproducible peaks in which catecholamines and AA are resolved from each other. Moreover, pharmacological investigations suggest that the catecholamine peak measured in vivo in the rat neostriatum should be attributed to 3, 4-dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid (DOPAC), suggesting that our technique may be a useful means of following dopaminergic activity in vivo.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, R. N. Analyt. Chem. 48, 1126A–1137A (1976).
Gonon, F. et al. C. r. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 286D, 1203–1206 (1978).
Lane, R. F., Hubbard, A. T. & Blaha, C. D. Bioelectrochem. Bioenergetics 5, 506–527 (1978).
Conti, J. C., Strope, E., Adams, R. N. & Marsden, C. A. Life Sci. 23, 2705–2716 (1978).
Lane, R. F., Hubbazrd, A. T. & Blaha, C. D. J. electroanalyt. Chem. 95, 117–122 (1979).
Huff, R., Adams, R. N. & Rutledge, C. O. Brain Res. 173, 369–372 (1979).
Lane, R. F., Hubbard, A. T., Fukunaga, K. & Blanchard, R. J. Brain Res. 114, 346–352 (1976).
Ponchon, J. L., Cespuglio, R., Gonon, F., Jouvet, M. & Pujol, J. L. Analyt. Chem. 51, 1483–1486 (1979).
Buda, M., Gonon, F., Cespuglio, R., Jouvet, M. & Pujol, J. F. C.r. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 290D, 431–434 (1980).
Moore, K. E. & Kelly, P. H. in Psychopharmacology: A generation of Progress (eds Lipton, M. A., Dimascio, A. & Killam, K. F.) 221–234 (Raven, New York, 1978).
Brownstein, M., Saavedra, J. M. & Palkovits, M. Brain Res. 79, 431–436 (1974).
Wightman, R. M., Steope, E., Plotsky, P. & Adams, R. N. Brain Res. 159, 55–68 (1978).
Carlsson, A., Davis, J. N., Kehr, W., Lindqvist, M. & Atack, C. V. Naunyn, Schmiedebergs Archs Pharmak 275, 153–168 (1972).
Roth, R. H., Murrin, L. C. & Walters, J. R. Eur. J. Pharmac. 36, 163–171 (1976).
Karoum, F., Neff, N. H. & Wyatt, R. J. Eur. J. Pharmac. 44, 311–318 (1977).
Fadda, F., Argiolas, A., Stefanini, E. & Gessa, G. L. Life Sci. 21, 411–418 (1977).
Wilk, S., Watson, E. & Travis, B. Eur. J. Pharmac. 30, 238–243 (1975).
Westernik, B. H. C., Lejeune, B., Korf, J. & Van Praag, H. M. Eur. J. Pharmac. 42, 179–190 (1977).
Nieoullon, A., Cheramy, A. & Glowinski, J. J. NeuroChem. 28, 819–828 (1977).
Cragg, B. Trends Neurosci. 2, 159–161 (1979).
Tassin, J. P., Cheramy, A., Blanc, G., Thierry, A. M. & Glowinski, J. Brain Res. 107, 291–301 (1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gonon, F., Buda, M., Cespuglio, R. et al. In vivo electrochemical detection of catechols in the neostriatum of anaesthetized rats: dopamine or DOPAC?. Nature 286, 902–904 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/286902a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/286902a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.