Parallel On-Chip Analysis of Single Vesicle Neurotransmitter Release

Real-time investigations of neurotransmitter release provide a direct insight on the mechanisms involved in synaptic communication. Carbon fiber microelectrodes are state-of-the-art tools for electrochemical measurements of. single vesicle: neurotransmitter release. Yet, they lack high-throughput capabilities, that are required for collecting robust. statistically, significant data across multiple samples. Here, we present a chip-based recording system enabling parallel in vitro measurements of individual, neurotransmitter release events from cells, cultured directly on planar multielectrode arrays. The applicability of this cell-based platform to Pharmacological screening is demonstrated by resolving minute concentration-dependent effects of the dopamine reuptake inhibitor nomifensine on recorded single-vesicle release events from PC12 cells. The experimental results, showing an increased time of the recorded events, are complemented by an analytical model for the verification of drug action.