A liquid ion-exchanger alternative to KCl for filling intracellular reference microelectrodes.
We have developed a filling solution for silanised microelectrodes consisting of potassium tetrakis (p-chlorophenyl) borate in octanol. Microelectrodes filled with this reference liquid ion-exchanger (RLIE) have equal selectivities to Na and K, and give the same membrane potential as do KCl-filled microelectrodes. The RLIE microelectrodes are more stable, less damaging to the cell membrane and do not leak Cl- ions. Their high resistance, however, makes them unsuitable for recording rapid potential changes or for passing current.
D000818:Animals; D001896:Boron Compounds; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D012908:Snails; D013775:Tetraphenylborate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D001896:Boron Compounds; C030385:tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate; D013775:Tetraphenylborate; D011189:Potassium Chloride