Electrochemistry at the Synapse

Electrochemical measurements of neurotransmitters provide insight into the dynamics of neurotransmission. In this review, we describe the development of electrochemical measurements of neurotransmitters and how they started with extrasynaptic measurements but now are pushing toward synaptic measurem...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of analytical chemistry (Palo Alto, Calif.) Calif.), 2019-06, Vol.12 (1), p.297-321
Main Authors: Shin, Mimi, Wang, Ying, Borgus, Jason R, Venton, B. Jill
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetylcholine
Adenosine
Amperometry
Animals
Biosensing Techniques
Biosensors
Cytometry
Dopamine
Electrical measurement
Electrochemical Techniques
Electrochemistry
Exocytosis
glutamate
Humans
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
microelectrode
Monitoring
nanoelectrodes
Neurotransmission
Neurotransmitter Agents - analysis
Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism
Neurotransmitters
Organic chemistry
Serotonin
Synapses - chemistry
Synapses - metabolism
Synaptic Transmission
voltammetry
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Electrochemical measurements of neurotransmitters provide insight into the dynamics of neurotransmission. In this review, we describe the development of electrochemical measurements of neurotransmitters and how they started with extrasynaptic measurements but now are pushing toward synaptic measurements. Traditionally, biosensors or fast-scan cyclic voltammetry have monitored extrasynaptic levels of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, adenosine, glutamate, and acetylcholine. Amperometry and electrochemical cytometry techniques have revealed mechanisms of exocytosis, suggesting partial release. Advances in nanoelectrodes now allow spatially resolved, electrochemical measurements in a synapse, which is only 20-100 nm wide. Synaptic measurements of dopamine and acetylcholine have been made. In this article, electrochemical measurements are also compared to optical imaging and mass spectrometry measurements, and while these other techniques provide enhanced spatial or chemical information, electrochemistry is best at monitoring real-time neurotransmission. Future challenges include combining electrochemistry with these other techniques in order to facilitate multisite and multianalyte monitoring.
ISSN:1936-1327
1936-1335
DOI:10.1146/annurev-anchem-061318-115434