USS5S

Overview

• Direct connect low-resistance electrodes
• Simple operation, easy to control temperature and clean after use
• Luer type leak-free attachment of tubing and electrodes
• Recessed electrode ports avoid bubble formation

Includes

• Snap Chamber (CHM5)
• Stand
• Reservoir
• Electrodes
• Tubing

WPI’s Ussing System offers researchers a quick, effective means of making low-resistance electrical connections to the Ussing chamber without need of long agar bridges or Calomel half-cells. Ag/AgCl half-cells screw into short tubes which plug firmly into place in the chamber’s luer ports. These direct-connect electrodes eliminate the inconvenience and expense of Calomel half-cells in open liquids. The System includes one Ussing Chamber (eight sizes available), Support Stand, Electrode Kit, Glass Circulation Reservoir (two sizes available), and a Tubing start-up kit (25 feet of 0.375-in. tubing, 10 feet of 0.156-in. tubing, plus four male luer fittings, two compressor clamps, one Y-connector, and one clip). Components are also available separately.

Ussing Chambers

WPI’s classical Ussing Chambers are well established perfusion chambers that are easy to operate, easy to control temperature, and easy to clean after use. Hundreds of them are used daily by scientists in the field. Ussing Chambers are machined from solid acrylic with eight entry ports for fluid lines, electrodes, or agar bridges. For easy, leak-free attachment of tubing and electrodes, all eight ports are luer type. The four ports for voltage and current electrodes are recessed to prevent formation of air bubbles in the chamber. The fluid compartments in each side of the chamber are separated by the epithelial membrane being studied. Sharp stainless steel pins on one side of the chamber hold the membrane in position and mate with holes in the opposite chamber interface. (In the CHM4, tissue is held by an O-ring instead of pins.). The CHM5 chamber adapts the Costar Snapwell, a cell culture insert for mono­layer cell culture, into WPI’s “classical” epithelial voltage clamp system. Until now, classical Ussing Chambers have not been widely used for mono­layer cell culture inserts because most inserts have a very deep pro­file, limiting good fluid perfusion at the surface of the membrane - and limiting voltage electrodes from measuring the potential close to the surface of the membrane. CHM5 solves these problems: Perfusion fluid is introduced into the chamber at an angle so that it will flow directly to the surface of the membrane. The voltage electrode is also inserted into the chamber at an angle so as to reduce the distance between the surface of the membrane and the electrode. Drains may be added to Ussing chambers to allow quick and complete evacuation of radioactive or toxic substances.

Cartridge Electrodes

The Electrode Kit contains four voltage/current electrodes, plus four luer-tipped cartridges. Electrodes are threaded and screw securely into the end of each cartridge. The luer tip then plugs securely into the luer openings of the chamber. The cable from each electrode terminates with a 2 mm pin which may be plugged into voltage/current clamps such as WPI’s SYS-DVC1000 or SYS-EVC4000. The miniature electrode-gel cartridge is a small plastic tube with a male luer tip identical to those at the tip of hypodermic syringes. The tube may be filled with different gel materials; agar is commonly used but other gel materials may also be satisfactory.

Circulation Reservoirs

Hand-blown borosilicate glass, with jacketed chambers for temperature control. Available in two sizes - #5210 holds 20 mL per side, and #5362 holds 10mL per side (useful when expensive chemicals are involved). Reservoir condenser caps prevent air bubbles and turbulence in fluid reservoirs.

Water Bath

The 503843 Julabo Constant Temperature Water Bath has been tested at WPI and found to be ideal for WPI’s Ussing system. It can provide simultaneous warming for up to 16 systems. Menu-driven control module allows easy temperature setting, correction and display, with temperature accuracy of ± 0.02°C.

Specifications

Accessories

Citations

M.Khera, G.T. Somogyi, S. Kiss, T.B. Boone, C.P. Smith "Botulinum toxin A inhibits ATP release from bladder urothelium after chronic spinal cord injury" Neurochemistry International 45. 2004: 987-993

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