Electrochemical detection of rapid DA release kinetics during hypoxia in perfused-superfused cat CB.

The hypothesis that hypoxic excitation is coupled to dopamine (DA) secretion was tested in perfused-superfused cat carotid bodies (CB). DA was electrochemically detected by an amperometric method (constant applied potential +150 mV) with Nafion polymer-coated recessed gold microsensors (tip diameter 3-8 microns) in 10 cat CBs. Neural discharge (ND) from the whole sinus nerve was measured simultaneously with DA changes during interruption of perfusate flow and during hypoxic perfusion (5% O2). A computer-controlled instrument using a chronoamperometric technique (+550-mV pulses) with a Nafion-coated carbon fiber microelectrode (tip diameter 35 microns) was used to detect DA changes in two CBs during similar hypoxic stimuli. Rapid DA release kinetics were measured during flow interruption with an initial rate of 1.05 +/- 0.15 (SE) microM/s within the first 10-15 s. At most measurement sites, the increase in DA preceded the rise in ND. After the initial increase, DA release slowed to 0.16 +/- 0.02 microM/s, reaching a maximum DA concentration of 20.7 +/- 2.6 microM above baseline after 90 s of flow interruption. Nicotine (10-micrograms bolus) caused a large increase in ND without a proportional increase in DA release. Spatially detailed time-resolved electrochemical measurements were able to discriminate between DA release during hypoxia and chemoexcitatory responses that do not involve DA release.