Studio, in tempo reale, del metabolismo energetico striatale in rattifreely moving: sviluppo e caratterizzazione di neurobiosensori integrati in un sistema biotelemetrico.

In this study, we present a wireless device connected with microsensors and biosensors capable to detect real-time changes of important compounds present in central nervous system and implicated in brain energetic metabolism. The distributed system, based on simple and inexpensive components, comprises several peripheral units (PUs) and a central unit connected to a PC via USB. PU has been coupled with microsensors and biosensors for the detection of O2, AA, glucose and lactate in the striatum of freely-moving rats. Microsensors, and biosensors were implanted in the right striatum. After a period of stabilization, physiological stimulation (five minute tail pinch) was administered in order to increase neural activity. Baseline recordings and physiological stimulation starting 24 h after implantation. A five-minute tail pinch resulted in a significant increase of O2, AA and lactate signal during stimulus administration and after stimulus suspension. Phisiological stimulation produced a significant decrease of glucose signal followed by its increase after stimulus suspension. Post-activation data are complex to interpret and suggest the return to normal (inactive) condition with glucose as energetic substrate for neurons.The in-vivo results indicate that, during neuronal activation in physiological condition, extracellular striatal changes of the above neurochemicals mainly reflect astrocyte response to glutamatergic stimulation.