Antibody microprobes art devices which have been used to determine the
release sites of several neuropeptides. The production of microprobes
using the previous methodology is a time-consuming procedure requirin
g a high level of skill. The aim of the study was to investigate alter
native methods for the production of microprobes which would simplify
this procedure. Specific antibodies to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone
(TRH) were bound to the outside of glass and tungsten wire microprobes
using (a) an aminosilane coating, (b) a polycarbonate plastic coating
and (c) an epoxylite resin-activated charcoal coating. Microprobes we
re assessed in vitro and in vivo for their ability to measure the neur
opeptide TRH. All methods considerably reduced the time required to ma
nufacture microprobes (more than 5-fold) and the aminosilane and epoxy
lite resin/charcoal-coated probes were suitable for use in vivo. The p
referred binding coat was epoxylite/charcoal which has now been used t
o determine sites of TRH release in rat brain.