Specifically, HPLC provides the high selectivity and sensitivity necessary to detect very low levels of endogenous monoamine in microdialysis perfusates. 3,4 Basic microdialysis systems include a syringe pump, syringe, tubing and connectors, a microdialysis probe, and a collection vial or fraction collector. Since the inception of microdialysis, a number of developments in the capabilities of these components has improved the ease, sensitivity, and range of microdialysis applications. Courtesy of CMA Microdialysis microdialysis samples chemicals via diffusion. The central component of any microdialysis experiment is the probe itself.
Designs vary depending on purpose, and many scientists design and create their own probes.
Investigators most often use probes that possess a good recovery to match the sensitivity of the chosen analytical assay, that have a small diameter to ensure limited damage, and are designed for optimal implantation into the chosen tissue. When first introduced, the microdialysis probe consisted of a hollow tube of dialysis membrane inserted transversely through the brain. Many microdialysis studies have characterized the effects of drugs on the rat brain. With the recent boom in mouse genetics, however, there is a growing need for in vivo techniques to study drug-related effects on smaller animals. Thanks to the introduction of smaller probes to the market, it is now possible to monitor extracellular levels of multiple neurotransmitters with simultaneous measurement of behavior in the mouse.