Neurotransmitters and neuronal releasing molecules are not only the regulator of neuronal function, but also the indicator of neuronal conditions. Glutamate and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) play important roles in cerebellar differentiations and functions. In the mature cortex, they are released from synapses and taken up by transporter molecules. We have developed the enzyme-linked photo assay systems for glutamate and GABA, and reported their release in developing cerebellar cortex. Our systems showed slow transmitter release in the immature cerebellum, whereas it was hard to detect the fast synaptic release from mature neurons. Our system had some limitation of time resolution and data depth derived from CCD, and the enzyme-linked photo device was sometimes unstable.
In this study, we report the observation of neurotransmitter release in the mature cerebellar slices using high-speed 16-bit CCD camera, Flash 4.0 (Hamamatsu Photonics) and improved photo devices. The redox enzyme was bound on the glass surface using vapor deposition, and increased its density. Using this new system, rapid measurement of transmitter release in young-adult cerebellar cortex became possible. We concern that the photo assay systems would become the advantage for the observation of synaptic release for several diseases.