Kasuaki Yoshioka uses on-line brain microdialysis coupled to liquid chromatography to follow fluctuations in serotonin in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the rat brain. Simultaneous animal activity measurements were correlated with neurochemical changes after melatonin administration. Bruce Solomon demonstrates the utility of the new epsilon system for pulsed techniques, including sugars, carbohydrates and polyalcohols. Classical electroanalysis is also possible on the epsilon system, as discussed by Adrian Bott. Although potentiostatic experiments are much more common, there are some applications for which a galvanostat is advantageous.
Electrochemical titrations are among the most widely utilized applications of electrochemistry.
Adrian Bott explains the principles of the technique. One of the most widely used applications of electrochemistry is for determining the endpoint of titrations. The results support previous qualitative observations by our laboratory and may yield insight into the role of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain reward system. This approach eliminated the extensive animal handling and restraints normally associated with manual blood sampling. In fact, rats in this system could roam freely in a cage, with food, water, and no interference in their normal activities while blood sampling was underway.