Methodological aspects of in vitro sensing of L-glutamate in acute brain slices

L-Glutamate is a major amino acid neurotransmitter in the central neuronal system of the mammalian brain and plays a vital role in brain development, synaptic plasticity, neurotoxicity, and neuropathological disorders. Despite technical limitations, progress is being made in sensing L-glutamate in vivo and in vitro. Sophisticated microsensors with the necessary spatial and temporal resolution have recently been emerging, which enable us to discern regional distribution, concentration levels, and temporal changes of L-glutamate in acute brain slices. The L-glutamate sensors for in vitro sensing have different structures and sizes, such as glass capillary-based enzyme sensors, polymer-coated enzyme sensors, and patch sensors based on natural sensing probes. The concentration of L-glutamate released in brain slices by chemical stimulation is markedly dependent on neuronal regions, types of stimulation, and sensing methods. Real- and long-time monitoring of L-glutamate in acute hippocampal slices is beginning to shed light on L-glutamate release related to the molecular mechanisms of long-term potentiation. Progress is also being made toward the visualization of L-glutamate release in acute hippocampal slices. The methodological aspects of in vitro sensing of L-glutamate are discussed.