Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry for Ex Vivo Recording of Dopamine Release

Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (FCV) is an electrochemical technique that enables real-time detection of oxidisable neurotransmitters, including dopamine (DA), norepinephrine, and serotonin, with sub-second temporal resolution. By applying a rapidly scanning triangular voltage waveform to a carbon-fibre microelectrode, FCV allows highly sensitive measurement of rapid, transient changes in extracellular neurotransmitter concentrations with excellent temporal precision. This makes FCV particularly well-suited for recording fast neuromodulatory signalling events. This article describes the application of FCV to measure evoked DA release in ex vivo mouse brain slices. The protocol outlines essential steps for carbon-fibre microelectrode fabrication, acute brain slice preparation, electrode conditioning, data acquisition, and post-hoc calibration to convert current signals into absolute DA concentrations. Using the selective β2-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE), we demonstrate that nAChR activity has a powerful modulatory influence on striatal DA release. Together, this work highlights FCV as a powerful approach for investigating monoamine transmission across brain regions.