Detection of neuropeptide release in the central nervous system with antibody microprobes

Antibody microprobes are glass micropipettes bearing a uniform layer of immobilized antibodies on their outer surfaces. When a microprobe is placed in the central nervous system, localized release of a ligand for the particular antibody produces binding at a localized area of the microprobe. This is detected on microprobe autoradiographs as deficits in the binding of a radiolabelled form of the ligand in which probes are incubated after withdrawal from the brain or spinal cord. An image analysis system scans autoradiographs quantitatively. Experiments are best done under near sterile conditions as peptides and proteases occur in inflammatory exudates.