Analytical chemistry in microenvironments: single nerve cells

Abstract

Abstract : The ultimate neuronal microenvironment is the single nerve cell. The heterogeneity between individual cells in the brain demands that attempts be made to determine the development, function and regulation of individual neurons. When developing techniques to carry out analysis in neurochemical microenvironment, it is important to realize the incredible variability not only in chemistry from cell to cell, but also in physiological response time and compartments within single cells. Analysis of cytoplasmic, organelles, extracellular fluid, and single whole cells must be considered primary goals for eventual understanding of single cell function. Voltammetric microelectrodes are ideally suited for dynamic chemical changes resulting from discrete neurochemical events as they possess rapid response times. Furthermore, many neurochemicals are easily oxidized. In addition, microcolumn separation methods including open tubular liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis are capable of profiling the chemistry of single cells. Hence, voltammetry is useful for experiments where changes in chemical composition are to be monitored and microcolumn separation methods allow determination of chemical composition at a specific sampling time. This paper will describe experimental schemes and discuss results obtained using these methods to monitor neurochemistry at the level of a single cell techniques to carry out analysis in neurochemical microenvironments.