Living cell-based allergen sensing using a high resolution two-dimensional surface plasmon resonance imager.

Recently, several papers indicated that the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique was available to monitor stimulation responses of mammalian cells adhered on sensor chips. On the other hand, the newly developed two-dimensional SPR (2D-SPR) imager system can obtain 2D-images of local refractive index change on the surface of a gold thin film. From these backgrounds, we expected that the 2D-SPR imager can visualize the individual response of many mammalian cells, simultaneously. Here, we report the observation of an allergenic response of a model mast cell, rat basophilic leukaemia cell (RBL-2H3), by using the high magnification 2D-SPR imaging system after pre-sensitization with 0.1 µg mL(-1) anti-dinitrophenyl immunoglobulin E (anti-DNP IgE). The response of the cells was successfully observed as the increment of the SPR signal (reflection intensity) upon stimulation with 0.1-1000 ng mL(-1) DNP-modified bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA).

Oxygen-independent real-time monitoring of distinct biphasic glutamate release using dialysis electrode in rat striatum during anoxia: in vivo evaluation of glutamate release and reversed uptake.

Using a dialysis electrode, previous studies showed a clear biphasic release of glutamate during anoxia and ischemia. In this study, we examined two hypotheses: (1) glutamate is of vesicular origin and its release is thus Ca2+- and ATP-dependent in the first phase, while in the second phase glutamate is derived primarily from the metabolic pool, and (2) reversed glutamate uptake, due to electrogenic stoichiometry, produces the second phase during anoxic insult in the rat brain. A dialysis electrode continuously perfused with glutamate oxidase and ferrocene-conjugated bovine serum albumin (BSA) optimized the time resolution of monitoring, allowing quantitative oxygen-independent, real-time measurement of the extracellular glutamate concentration ([Glu]e) during anoxia. [Glu]e dynamics were analyzed during anoxia by combining the dialysis electrode with focal microinjection of substances inducing glutamate release. Following anoxia in the rat brain, a sharp and rapid [Glu]e elevation took place (first phase). The [Glu]e elevation then shifted, continuing a gently sloping rise throughout the anoxic period (second phase). This first phase disappeared with intracranial administration of either Co2+ or omega-conotoxin. The second phase rise increased with focal microinjection of KCl (300 mM, 1 microL) and decreased with NaCl (300 mM, 1 microL), ultimately reaching a plateau in both cases. Preloading with a novel glutamate transporter inhibitor (tPDC) decreased both the first and second phases of [Glu]e elevation. This dialysis electrode system provides data supporting in vivo evidence that the peak of the first phase of [Glu]e elevation is derived from the "neurotransmitter pool," while the second phase is derived from the neuronal and glial "metabolic pool," which is, at least, partly related to a "reversed uptake" mechanism in the anoxic rat brain.

Subthalamic stimulation-induced synaptic responses in substantia nigra pars compacta dopaminergic neurons in vitro.

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is one of the principal sources of excitatory glutamatergic input to dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, yet stimulation of the STN produces both excitatory and inhibitory effects on nigral dopaminergic neurons recorded extracellularly in vivo. The present experiments were designed to determine the sources of the excitatory and inhibitory effects. Synaptic potentials were recorded intracellularly from substantia nigra pars compacta dopaminergic neurons in parasagittal slices in response to stimulation of the STN. Synaptic potentials were analyzed for onset latency, amplitude, duration, and reversal potential in the presence and absence of GABA and glutamate receptor antagonists. STN-evoked depolarizing synaptic responses in dopaminergic neurons reversed at approximately -31 mV, intermediate between the expected reversal potential for an excitatory and an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (EPSP and IPSP). Blockade of GABA(A) receptors with bicuculline caused a positive shift in the reversal potential to near 0 mV, suggesting that STN stimulation evoked a near simultaneous EPSP and IPSP. Both synaptic responses were blocked by application of the glutamate receptor antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxalene-2,3-dione. The confounding influence of inhibitory fibers of passage from globus pallidus and/or striatum by STN stimulation was eliminated by unilaterally transecting striatonigral and pallidonigral fibers 3 days before recording. The reversal potential of STN-evoked synaptic responses in dopaminergic neurons in slices from transected animals was approximately -30 mV. Bath application of bicuculline shifted the reversal potential to approximately 5 mV as it did in intact animals, suggesting that the source of the IPSP was within substantia nigra. These data indicate that electrical stimulation of the STN elicits a mixed EPSP-IPSP in nigral dopaminergic neurons due to the coactivation of an excitatory monosynaptic and an inhibitory polysynaptic connection between the STN and the dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra pars compacta. The EPSP arises from a direct monosynaptic excitatory glutamatergic input from the STN. The IPSP arises polysynaptically, most likely through STN-evoked excitation of GABAergic neurons in substantia nigra pars reticulata, which produces feed-forward GABA(A)-mediated inhibition of dopaminergic neurons through inhibitory intranigral axon collaterals.

GABAA receptor stimulation blocks NMDA-induced bursting of dopaminergic neurons in vitro by decreasing input resistance.

The effects of the GABAA agonist, isoguvacine, on NMDA-induced burst firing of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons were studied with intracellular and whole cell recordings in vitro. NMDA application caused the neurons to fire in rhythmic bursts. Although the NMDA-induced bursty firing pattern was insensitive to hyperpolarization by current injection, it was reversibly abolished by the selective GABAA agonist, isoguvacine. The block of the rhythmic burst pattern by isoguvacine application occurred regardless of whether the chloride reversal potential was hyperpolarizing (ECl-=-70 mV) or depolarizing (ECl-=-40 mV). In either case, the input resistance of the dopaminergic neurons was dramatically decreased by application of isoguvacine. It is concluded that GABAA receptor activation by isoguvacine disrupts NMDA receptor-mediated burst firing by increasing the input conductance and thereby shunting the effects of NMDA acting at a distally located generator of rhythmic burst firing.

An improved method for the detection of changes in brain extracellular glutamate levels.

We developed a method for in vivo real-time monitoring of the concentration of extracellular glutamate ([Glu]e) in the brain under anoxic conditions. A dialysis electrode (Sycopel Int., UK) was employed as a sensing device to measure the concentration of glutamate by enzyme amperometry, and an electron mediator, ferrocene, was introduced into the electrode together with glutamate oxidase. The ferrocene was covalently conjugated with a high molecular weight molecule, bovine serum albumin, to avoid outward diffusion through the dialysis membrane. With this set-up, the amperometric response was independent of the pO2 around the electrode in vitro up to 400 microM glutamate. Using this method, we investigated the dynamics of [Glu]e in the rat striatum during anoxia. [Glu]e increased rapidly at 102+/-5.4s (n = 6) after the start of nitrogen inhalation. The increase continued for about 30 s, and then [Glu]e decreased. The peak value of delta[Glu]e was 141+/-37 micro M. [Glu]e subsequently underwent another gradual increase, reaching 213+/-69 microM at 15 min after the start of nitrogen inhalation. This distinct biphasic profile was reproducible. We conclude that this method is very useful for monitoring [Glu]e in the brain under low pO2 conditions.

Real time monitoring of biphasic glutamate release using dialysis electrode in rat acute brain ischemia.

Glutamate has been proposed to play a critical role in acute ischemic pathophysiology in the brain. In this study, glutamate was monitored by the dialysis electrode technique, in which glutamate is oxidized by glutamate oxidase producing hydrogen peroxide which is then amperometrically detected on a platinum electrode set at +650 mV vs Ag/AgCl. A dialysis electrode, which consists of a microdialysis probe with a built-in platinum electrode, provides a continuous glutamate oxidase perfusion inside of the probe. Perfusion with this solution allows real-time monitoring of glutamate dynamics in the extracellular space during ischemia. This study was designed to collect detailed information on rapid changes in the extracellular glutamate concentration of the rat striatum and demonstrated two distinct phases of glutamate release during early severe brain ischemia.