Microdialysis as an approach to quantitate the release of neuropeptides

1. In vivo microdialysis was performed on anesthetized and awake rats to measured release of cholecystokinin from the posterior nucleus accumbens. 2. Basal levels of cholecystokinin were detectable by radioimmunoassay in some, but not all animals. 3. Recovery through the microdialysis probe ranged from 0.1-2.4% for cholecystokinin, suggesting practical limitations to this approach with present technology.