In vivo microdialysis in the rat: low cost and low labor construction of a small diameter, removable,...

A method for construction of a serviceable and low cost intracerebral microdialysis system is presented. The system includes a probe and its supporting components. The probe is of the concentric design. The supporting components are an implantable guide cannula, a tether, and a swivel. After minimal training, workers can make many probes of consistent performance characteristics in a short time. Because all of the parts are commercially produced, users may obtain custom-made components which are finished with factory precision and accuracy. The user may readily vary probe characteristics such as depth of implant and size of active portion, so that different types of dialysis may be performed in different brain regions. The available choices in tether and swivel configurations make this microdialysis system readily adaptable to diverse testing environments. Excluding labor and startup costs, the costs, the cost per probe is approximately $11.00 (US). Taken together, the system provides a flexible, low cost means for performing in vivo microdialysis in freely moving rats.