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Neurotransmitter imaging by mass spectrometry
Rationale: High-sensitivity neurotransmitter imaging is important as a research tool for neurodegenerative disease models. Positron emission tomography is used for visualizing some of transmitters; however, it only provides information on specific receptor/ligand interaction.
Objective: To develop and validate matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) as a sensitive technique for in situ imaging of neurotransmitters in awaked mouse brain.
Methods and Results:
Awake mouse brains were fixed in vivo by focused microwave irradiation (FMW). Mapping of amino acid neurotransmitters, glutamate, GABA and glycine were achieve by IMS coupled with recently our developed on-tissue derivatization method (Toue and Sugiura et al., 2014). Furthermore, this imaging technique was proven to be sensitive enough to identify spatial distribution of trace monoamines (e.g., dopamine) on same brain section.
Conclusions: Our results highlight the utility and high-sensitivity of MALDI-IMS combined with FMW for visualizing neurotransmitters just as they were in vivo in awaked mouse brains.