In-vivo brain dialysis of neurotransmitters.

Centrally acting drugs interfere with the function of central neurotransmitter systems. This often requires intact neuronal connections and is therefore best studied in vivo. Here, Gaetano Di Chiara describes the technique of brain dialysis, which permits direct in-vivo sampling of neurotransmitters and their metabolites in the brain extracellular fluid. This technique is now providing insight correlating the interaction of drugs with neurotransmission in specific brain areas with their effects on behaviour.