Microelectrodes and their use to assess ion channel function.
Impalement of living cells with microelectrodes (MEs) is a useful approach to measure a variety of biological parameters such as membrane potential (Vm), intracellular free ion concentrations and cell-to-cell communication. Despite such widespread applications, the number of trained researchers capable of using MEs is diminishing. In this article, we describe the fundamentals of the preparation and the proper use of MEs to study the physiology of transepithelial ion transport.
Edelman
Aleksander
A
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 467, Faculté de Médecine Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Chanson
Marc
M
Hug
Martin J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000502:physiology; D008839:Microelectrodes
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007473:Ion Channels