Quartz micropipettes for intracellular voltage microelectrodes and ion-selective microelectrodes

doi:10.1016/0165-0270(87)90090-2

Journal of Neuroscience Methods

Volume 22, Issue 1, November 1987, Pages 57-64

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0270(87)90090-2 Get rights and content

Abstract

We find that quartz is better than borosilicate glass as a material for micropipettes for certain microelectrode applications, including ion-selective microelectrodes of the liquid membrane type. Details are given of a graphite heating element that can be mounted on a standard microelectrode puller and used for making quartz micropipettes. A novel method of silanizing micropipettes is described. Experience with a novel miniature beveller that is fitted on a microscope stage is reported.

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Confined Nanopipette-A new microfluidic approach for single cell analysis
2019, TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry
Citation Excerpt :
Compared to borosilicate, quartz features a higher melting point and unique chemical stability. In addition, quartz is stronger than other types of glasses, which makes it easy to penetrate the tough tissue, whereas borosilicate-based nanopipettes tend to break up [10]. Last but not least, the electrical noise of quartz nanopipettes is much lower than that of other types of glass when conducting electrochemical applications [11].
Monitoring the dynamic behaviour of a single cell in a natural environment is vital in biological studies and contributes to the understanding of the relationship between the function of single cells and the pathology. The advent of specially designed and sensitive chemical or biological analytical methods that enable the application in single cell analysis is urgently demanded. Confined nanopipettes, a unique microfluidic channel with a tunable size, have been proven to be a facile approach capable of identifying small molecules in a label-free manner. The microfluid in the confined space and the electrochemically confined effect within the nanopipette renders a high sensitivity to the analytes of individual cells. In contrast to ensemble analytical techniques, nanopipettes can precisely manipulate single cells with submicron accuracy. Here, we review the fabrication and characteristics of confined nanopipettes, summarize their application in single cell analysis, and conclude with a perspective for their future development in the single cell analysis area.
Measurement of cytosolic chloride activityby ion-selective microelectrodes
1995, Methods in Neurosciences
Cl^– selective microelectrodes give absolute values of aCl_i (as distinct from qualitative changes) much more directly than do currently available fluorescent indicators. A Cl^– microelectrode is a powerful and elegant tool that allows a direct correlation of electrical activity and changes in aCl_i. In large cells, such as snail neurons, the power can be increased by simultaneous use of an additional electrode to measure a second ion. They should not be put off by excessive concern with junction and tip potentials: all the achievements of intracellular electrophysiology have been made despite them. Poor selectivity has been an occasional inconvenience of Cl^– microelectrodes, but improvements have been made and more are to be expected. Obtaining a clean, low-noise recording of aCl_i in a small cell requires perseverance, but the experimenter has the satisfaction that success is at least partly related to skill.
Observations on field potentials at their point of generation
1994, Journal of Neuroscience Methods
A technique for evoking then recording field potentials through one extracellular electrode was studied in the dentate gyrus of pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. In the molecular layer (the location of granule cell dendrites), a −5 μA pulse (0.4 ms, 0.2 Hz) consistently elicited a ‘focal’ response the major component of which was a negative-going wave of about 1 ms latency, 10 ms duration, and −0.8 to −1.5 mV amplitude. This wave resembled, and could partially occlude, field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPs) elicited electrically from the perforant path. It fatigued during high-frequency stimulation and is suggested to consist largely of granule-cell EPSPs produced by directly activated, perforant-path terminals. Focal and perforant-path tetanic stimulation led to stable potentiation of the focal negative phase. Stimulus-response curves for the negative phase were roughly linear over most or all of the stimulus range of −1 to −5 μA, but on a finer scale were serrated and irregular. After a tetanus, different stimulus-response curves showed parallel leftward shifts or slope changes along all or part of their range, implying multiple mechanisms of potentiation that might include both threshold and amplification changes. Several uses are suggested in the paper for focal recording of compound potentials in research and diagnosis.
Measurements of the extracellular potassium concentrations in the isolated rabbit retina with different kinds of potassium-sensitive microelectrodes
1991, Journal of Neuroscience Methods
When the dark-adapted isolated rabbit retina has been superfused from one side with a plasma-saline mixture containing 3.5 mM potassium, the extracellular potassium concentration within the dark-adapted retina was significantly higher (4.5–6.1 mM) than the potassium of the superfusate, when measured with an electrode filled with Corning 477317. The substantial difference between the [K⁺]₀ of the perfusate and the [K⁺]0 within the retina is difficult to explain and could be an instrumental artefact. To probe this possibility measurements have now been repeated using 2 different K⁺ electrodes, one filled with Corning 477317 and the other filled with a valinomycin-based ion exchanger. With the latter electrodes there was practically no gradient between the [K⁺]0 in the retina (3.2–4.0 mM) and the potassium concentration of the superfusate. It is thus evident that the earlier enigmatic values for [K⁺]₀ relate to the use of Corning 477317-filled K⁺ electrodes. When, however, changes in [K⁺]₀ were induced by a light stimulus, the measured magnitudes of change in [K⁺]₀ were the same with the 2 types of electrode.
Characteristics of activity-dependent potassium accumulation in mammalian peripheral nerve in vitro
1991, Brain Research
Ion-sensitive microelectrodes were used to study the behavior of extracellular ions in rat sciatic nerve during and following activity. Nerve stimulation produced increases in [K⁺]_o that were dependent upon the frequency and duration of stimulation; no change in extracellular pH occurred with stimulation. Increases in [K⁺]_o dependent on axonal discharge since they were blocked by inhibiting sodium channels with tetrodotoxin. At 22°C, stimulation could induce increases in [K⁺]_o of several mM; at 36°C, stimulation rarely produced increases in [K⁺]_o greater than 1mM. Stimulated increases in [K⁺]_o dissipated very slowly (i.e. t_1/2 = 50–100s) and the rate of dissipation was not significantly affected by anoxia, changes in temperature, changes in extracellular pH, or the application of a blocker of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase (ouabain) or a K⁺ channel blocker (Ba²⁺). In comparison to the central nervous system, neural activity in rat sciatic nerve produced smaller increases in [K⁺]_o and these increases dissipated much more slowly. The primary mechanism of K⁺ dissipation appeared to be diffusion, probably facilitated by the larger extracellular space in peripheral nerve compared to the central nervous system, but impeded by diffusion barriers imposed by the blood-nerve barrier.
Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy
2021, Chemical Reviews

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Journal of Neuroscience Methods

Abstract

References (19)

Silanization of glass in the making of ion-sensitive microelectrodes

J. Neurosci. Meth.

Neutral carrier ion-selective microelectrodes for measurement of intracellular free calcium

Biochim. Biophys. Acta

Valinomycin-based K⁺ selective microelectrodes with low electrical membrane resistance

Neurosci. Lett.

Acid-base properties of human gingival crevicular fluid

J. Dent. Res.

Modification of potassium movement through the retina of the drone (Apis mellifera ♀) by glial uptake

J. Physiol. (London)

A method of making fine double-barrelled potassium-sensitive microelectrodes for intracellular recording

J. Physiol. (London)

Surface and volume resistivity of Pyrex glass used for liquid membrane ion-sensitive microelectrodes

Surface resistivity of different silylated glasses

J. Appl. Electrochem.

Local adaptation in the ventral photoreceptors of Limulus

J. Gen. Physiol.

Cited by (26)

Confined Nanopipette-A new microfluidic approach for single cell analysis

Measurement of cytosolic chloride activityby ion-selective microelectrodes

Observations on field potentials at their point of generation

Measurements of the extracellular potassium concentrations in the isolated rabbit retina with different kinds of potassium-sensitive microelectrodes

Characteristics of activity-dependent potassium accumulation in mammalian peripheral nerve in vitro

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy

Research PaperQuartz micropipettes for intracellular voltage microelectrodes and ion-selective microelectrodes

Abstract

J. Neurosci. Meth.

Biochim. Biophys. Acta

Valinomycin-based K+ selective microelectrodes with low electrical membrane resistance

Neurosci. Lett.

Acid-base properties of human gingival crevicular fluid

J. Dent. Res.

Modification of potassium movement through the retina of the drone (Apis mellifera ♀) by glial uptake

J. Physiol. (London)

A method of making fine double-barrelled potassium-sensitive microelectrodes for intracellular recording

J. Physiol. (London)

Surface and volume resistivity of Pyrex glass used for liquid membrane ion-sensitive microelectrodes

Surface resistivity of different silylated glasses

J. Appl. Electrochem.

Local adaptation in the ventral photoreceptors of Limulus

J. Gen. Physiol.

Research Paper
Quartz micropipettes for intracellular voltage microelectrodes and ion-selective microelectrodes

Valinomycin-based K⁺ selective microelectrodes with low electrical membrane resistance