Development of Assays for Neuronal Peptide Content and Release
Neuropeptide release is also studied with MALDI TOF MS. In this method, a small chamber (10 $\mu$l) is used to hold an isolated bag cell cluster in a small volume of physiological saline. The chamber consists of a standard pipette tip with the narrow end melted around two sections of fused silica capillaries. Physiological saline flows into and from the chamber via capillaries and gravimetric pressure flow. Following electrical stimulation of a bag cell cluster, 50-100 nl samples are collected from the outlet end of the sampling capillary for analysis. MALDI MS is performed on the sample for peptide detection. Even in high salt concentrations peptides are detected by MALDI MS.
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