Local photolysis using tapered quartz fibres.
We describe a versatile, low-cost photolysis system in which sub-millisecond flashes generated by a xenon flash lamp are conveyed through a silica fibre directly onto a cell. The fibre, which is tapered to a sub-micrometre diameter and sputtered with chromium and aluminium, illuminates an area of about 1 microm2. Site and timing of photolysis can be chosen independently from other experimental parameters. As an application example we show the spatially heterogeneous distribution of Ca2+-dependent Cl- channels in olfactory receptor neurons.
Eberius
C
C
Physiologisches Institut, Universität Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
Schild
D
D
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004867:Equipment Design; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005029:Ethylenediamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007814:Larva; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010782:Photolysis; D011791:Quartz; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D000085:Acetates; D002614:Chelating Agents; D018118:Chloride Channels; D005029:Ethylenediamines; D011791:Quartz; C057014:DM-nitrophen; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D002118:Calcium