Monitoring Dopamine Release in a Rat Model with VTA Dopaminergic Neuron Receptor Manipulation

Stimulate the animal every three minutes for 20 to 30 minutes. After achieving a stable baseline, gently lower the internal cannula by hand into the guide cannula, pre-fitted into the bipolar stimulator, and obtain an additional two to three baseline recordings to confirm that the cannula insertion did not cause a change in the evoked signal.

Once a baseline response has been established, use a syringe pump in a microsyringe to infuse 0.5 microliters of the drug solution of interest into the VTA over a two-minute period. After the infusion, leave the internal cannula in place for at least one minute prior to removal, continuing to record the response every three minutes to measure the post-infusion effects.