A new design of carbon fiber microelectrode for in vivo voltammetry using fused silica.

Voltammetric probes were constructed from stainless steel and fused silica tubing sheathing carbon fibers. Electrochemical tests were carried out to compare these electrodes with commercially available glass-sealed IVEC-5 electrodes. Electrodes of both types displayed a similar declining baseline and calculated coefficients of stabilization (tangent of baseline during a stable period). There were no significant differences in sensitivity between the two designs of electrodes to norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA). All tested electrodes showed linear current responses to increasing concentrations of NE and DA. Fused silica (FS type) electrodes are suitable for electrochemical measurements (in vivo voltammetry) and display characteristics similar to those of commercially available IVEC-5 glass-sealed carbon fiber microelectrodes. Manufacture of FS type electrodes in a biochemical laboratory is easy and does not require any special equipment (such as a micropipette puller) or glass-handling skills. An additional fused silica tube can be glued to the electrode for microinjections. The electrodes are very robust, easy to handle and can be mounted on the arms of standard stereotaxic instruments. The electrodes can be made long enough to reach the deepest parts of brain of large animals.