A triangular conditioning voltage wave does not influence spontaneous neuronal activity in the rat striatum.

A triangular potential wave applied shortly before each measuring triple pulse has been used in in vivo voltammetric experiments to ensure the maintenance of a high level of stability and sensitivity in the carbon fiber electrode. To investigate whether a triangular wave (0- +/- 1500 mV, 10 V/s slope) and a consecutive triple pulse affect spontaneous neuronal firing, extracellular recordings were made in the rat striatum at a distance of about 200-300 microns from the carbon fiber electrode while these potentials were being delivered. No significant change in the rate of spontaneous firing was found. A triangular pulse has proven to be very effective in lengthening the measurement lifetime of the carbon fiber electrode without interfering with the spontaneous activity of striatal neurons.