Voltammetry and monoamines determination: an old acquaintance revisited

Abstract

First steps in brain research progress were made during the early 19^th century, whose swift progress was accompanied by the discovery of monoamines and their localization in the brain. Since the discovery of polarography in 1924, several variations of electrochemical techniques for in vitro and in vivo determination of monoamines have been developed, with the most prevalent being microdialysis and voltammetry. Voltammetry takes advantage of the chemical property of certain species to oxidize, videlicet to produce a current that can be measured and subsequently interpreted to concentration gradient. Voltammetric techniques require a three-electrode system and operate under the application of a potential at the working electrode, responsible to evoke the oxidation processes. Methodological variations include, among others, amperometry, cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, etc. In the present work we attempted to review the available knowledge on voltammetry, its uses and future endeavors since voltammetry is a promising method towards the investigation of brain and central nervous system physiology and pathophysiology.