Sensors 2009, 9(4), 2511-2523; doi:10.3390/s90402511
Article

Biotelemetric Monitoring of Brain Neurochemistry in Conscious Rats Using Microsensors and Biosensors

Giammario Calia 1 email, Gaia Rocchitta 1 email, Rossana Migheli 1 email, Giulia Puggioni 1 email, Ylenia Spissu 1 email, Gianfranco Bazzu 1 email, Vittorio Mazzarello 2 email, John P. Lowry 3 email, Robert D. O’Neill 4 email, Maria S. Desole 1 email and Pier A. Serra 1,* email
1 Department of Neuroscience, Medical School, University of Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari, Italy 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari, Italy 3 of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland 4 CD School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 3 March 2009; in revised form: 8 April 2009 / Accepted: 14 April 2009 / Published: 14 April 2009
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Sensors Technology in Italy)
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Abstract: In this study we present the real-time monitoring of three key brain neurochemical species in conscious rats using implantable amperometric electrodes interfaced to a biotelemetric device. The new system, derived from a previous design, was coupled with carbon-based microsensors and a platinum-based biosensor for the detection of ascorbic acid (AA), O2 and glucose in the striatum of untethered, freely-moving rats. The miniaturized device consisted of a single-supply sensor driver, a current-to-voltage converter, a microcontroller and a miniaturized data transmitter. The redox currents were digitized to digital values by means of an analog-to-digital converter integrated in a peripheral interface controller (PIC), and sent to a personal computer by means of a miniaturized AM transmitter. The electronics were calibrated and tested in vitro under different experimental conditions and exhibited high stability, low power consumption and good linear response in the nanoampere current range. The in-vivo results confirmed previously published observations on striatal AA, oxygen and glucose dynamics recorded in tethered rats. This approach, based on simple and inexpensive components, could be used as a rapid and reliable model for studying the effects of different drugs on brain neurochemical systems
Keywords: Biotelemetry; microsensor; biosensor; glucose; oxygen; ascorbic acid

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Calia, G.; Rocchitta, G.; Migheli, R.; Puggioni, G.; Spissu, Y.; Bazzu, G.; Mazzarello, V.; Lowry, J.P.; O’Neill, R.D.; Desole, M.S.; Serra, P.A. Biotelemetric Monitoring of Brain Neurochemistry in Conscious Rats Using Microsensors and Biosensors. Sensors 2009, 9, 2511-2523.

AMA Style

Calia G., Rocchitta G., Migheli R., Puggioni G., Spissu Y., Bazzu G., Mazzarello V., Lowry J.P., O’Neill R.D., Desole M.S., Serra P.A. Biotelemetric Monitoring of Brain Neurochemistry in Conscious Rats Using Microsensors and Biosensors. Sensors. 2009; 9(4):2511-2523.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Calia, Giammario; Rocchitta, Gaia; Migheli, Rossana; Puggioni, Giulia; Spissu, Ylenia; Bazzu, Gianfranco; Mazzarello, Vittorio; Lowry, John P.; O’Neill, Robert D.; Desole, Maria S.; Serra, Pier A. 2009. "Biotelemetric Monitoring of Brain Neurochemistry in Conscious Rats Using Microsensors and Biosensors." Sensors 9, no. 4: 2511-2523.

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