Applying a Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry to Explore Dopamine Dynamics in Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Progress in the development of technologies for the real-time monitoring of neurotransmitter dynamics has provided researchers with effective tools for the exploration of etiology and molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders. One of these powerful tools is fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), a technique which has progressively been used in animal models of diverse pathological conditions associated with alterations in dopamine transmission. Indeed, for several decades FSCV studies have provided substantial insights into our understanding of the role of abnormal dopaminergic transmission in pathogenetic mechanisms of drug and alcohol addiction, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, etc. Here we review the applications of FSCV to research neuropsychiatric disorders with particular attention to recent technological advances.

Interfacing Aptamer-Modified Nanopipettes with Neuronal Media and Ex Vivo Brain Tissue

“…The measurements were performed in the dorsolateral striatum, which receives dense innervation from the substantia nigra pars compacta of the brainstem. This brain area has been assessed for dopamine release using FSCV. , Initially, to test the feasibility of aptamer-modified nanopipettes for dopamine detection in brain slices, a strong high frequency stimulus (HFS) was employed in the dorsolateral striatum to maximize dopamine release (4 trains, 100 Hz, 9 mA stimulus). In repeated measurements, we observed that the 9 mA stimulus inducing brain contractions caused movement and subsequent misalignment of the inserted capillaries.…”

Hypodopaminergic state of the nigrostriatal pathway drives compulsive alcohol use

“…Emergence of the hypodopaminergic state of the mesolimbic pathway in the early phase of the disorder might therefore lead to aberrant enhanced DA phasic signaling in the NAc, that would contribute to aberrant learning [56] and sensitization of the mesolimbic DA pathway to drugs or associated cue [57,58]. Within this framework, complex interplay between DA tone and DA phasic signals has already been reported using voltametric and microdialysis approaches, where chronic substance use persistently decreased DA tone while, in parallel, increased DA phasic responses to salient stimuli, thereby increasing "signal-to-noise" ratio in the NAc [59][60][61][62]. In addition, optogenetic studies conducted within the mesolimbic pathway have shown that increasing DA phasic firing promotes excessive alcohol seeking, whereas increasing DA tonic firing decreases consumption and abolishes the effect of DA phasic signal when induced simultaneously [12,63,64].…”

Short-Term Consequences of Single Social Defeat on Accumbal Dopamine and Behaviors in Rats

“…This may impact the processes of synthesis, autoreceptor regulation of neurotransmitter release and reuptake. For example, the acceleration in dopamine uptake presumably due to the persistently elevated dopamine concentration in dopamine terminals was found using different models of drug addiction [13,15].…”

“…Some of these changes can be protective or adaptive in nature, while other may play a significant role in the development of dysfunctions followed by the progression to diseases [1,3,5,[8][9][10][11][12]. The stressed-derived aberrations in the dopamine transmission have received particular attention due to the involvement of this neurotransmitter in pathological conditions, such as drug and alcohol addictions [8,13,14], anxiety, depression [15,16], and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [17][18][19][20]. In fact, these psychopathologies may be significantly escalated by chronic as well as by single exposure to stress [3,21,22].…”