Intracerebral Human Microdialysis in Parkinsons Disease
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Microdialysis (MD) procedure is a versatile technique that allows the analysis of small molecular weight compounds from the
interstitial space in different tissues. MD was used extensively in neuroscience animal studies at the end of last century,
while only a single MD study in the human brain was performed at the end of 1980s. In contrast, over the last decade MD has
been applied in humans mainly in neurological disorders, such as stroke, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease (PD). In these
disorders MD has allowed quantification of neurotransmitters, peptides, and hormones giving precious information in research
as well as in clinical practice. Microdialysis in awake PD patients in conjunction with deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery
has received increasing interest, but is nonetheless still a novel approach. It is likely that MD will be instrumental as
a research tool in clarifying important open issues relating to the basal ganglia functions and dysfunctions. The present
chapter will summarize the principles of MD and its involvement in research studies in PD in humans, illuminating the limits
and the future applications of this procedure.
