Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A quasi-totally shielded, low-capacitance glass-microelectrode with suitable amplifiers for high-frequency intracellular potential and impedance measurements

  • Transport Processes, Metabolism and Endocrinology; Kidney, Gastrointestinal Tract, and Exocrine Glands
  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The fabrication of a new glass microelectrode for high-speed recording is reported. It consists of a Ling-Gerard microelectrode which is slit into a “spacer” capillary with the tip slightly protruding. Except for the ultimate tip (of ∼30 μm length) the entire assembly is coated with silver and insulated. After proper insertion into the cell the electrode provides a shield, which extends from the surface of the cell membrane up to the input of the amplifier. This electrode has two advantages: 1. it eliminates all capacitive pickup of bath potentials which is of paramount importance in impedance measurements and 2. if used in conjunction with negative capacitance amplifiers, it allows more faithful high-frequency recordings, than was possible with the conventional techniques, because the capacitance neutralization can be properly set even though the non-ideal transmission properties of the electrode tips are not known. Test experiments using a rapid amplifier circuit of own design show that the electrode assembly allows error-free phaseshift measurements of up to 30 kHz to be obtained with electrodes of 20 MΩ or risetimes (10–90%) of squarewave pulses of 10 to 12 μs. The corresponding time constants of 5 to 6 μs indicate that the time resolution of the new technique is superior to the apparent time resolution of the conventional techniques.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Amatniek, E.: Measurement of bioelectric potentials with microelectrodes and neutralized input capacity amplifiers. IRE Transactions Med. Electronics, Vol. ME10, 3–14 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Brown, K. T., Flaming, D. G.: Instrumentation and technique for beveling fine micropipette electrodes. Brain Res.86, 172–180 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Falk, G., Fatt, P.: Linear electrical properties of striated muscle fibres observed with intracellular electrodes. Proc. R. Soc. [Biol.]160, 69–123 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hegel, U.: Personal communication

  5. Lettvin, J. Y., Howland, B., Gesteland, R. C.: Footnotes on a headstage. IRE Transactions Med. Electronics Vol. ME10, 26–28 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lübbers, D. W., Baumgärtl, H., Saito, Y.: Insulation properties and ion sensitivity of thin layers of dielectrics deposited by RF sputtering on glass surfaces. In: Ion and enzyme electrodes in biology and medicine. (M. Kessler, L. C. Clark, D. W. Lübbers, I. A. Silver, W. Simon, eds.), pp. 110–115. München: Urban & Schwarzenberg 1976

    Google Scholar 

  7. Lux, H. D.: Eigenschaften eines Neuron-Modells mit Dendriten begrenzter Länge. Pflügers Arch.297, 238–255 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Neher, E.: Elektronische Meßtechnik in der Physiologie. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1974

    Google Scholar 

  9. Rech, F., Ujec, E.: Transfer properties of glass micropipettes. Physiol. Bohemoslov.27, 81–89 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schwartz, T. L., House, C. R.: A small tipped microelectrode designed to minimize capacitive artifacts during the passage of current through the bath. Rev. Sci. Instr.41, 515–517 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sonnhof, U.: A multi-barelled coaxial electrode for iontophoresis and intracellular recording with a gold shield of the central pipette for capacitance neutralization. Pflügers Arch.341, 351–358 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Suzuki, K., Frömter, E.: The potential and resistance profile of Necturus gallbladder cells. Pflügers Arch.371, 109–117 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Suzuki, K., Frömter, E.: Square wave pulse analysis of cell membrane impedance of Necturus gallbladder epithelium using shielded low-capacity intracellular microelectrodes. 6th Int. Biophysics Congress, Kyoto (1978)

  14. Tuttle, D. F.: Network synthesis. New York: John Wiley & Sons 1958

    Google Scholar 

  15. Valdiosera, R., Clausen, C., Eisenberg, R. S.: Measurement of the inpedance of frog skeletal muscle fibers. Biophys. J.14, 295–315 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. K. Suzuki

    Present address: I. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysik, Kennedyallee 70, D-6000, Frankfurt 70, Germany

    K. Suzuki, V. Rohliček (V. Rohliček was a visiting scientist from Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physiology, Praha Krč, Czechoslovakia) & E. Frömter

Authors
  1. K. Suzuki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. Rohliček
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Frömter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Suzuki, K., Rohliček, V. & Frömter, E. A quasi-totally shielded, low-capacitance glass-microelectrode with suitable amplifiers for high-frequency intracellular potential and impedance measurements. Pflugers Arch. 378, 141–148 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00584447

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00584447

Key words

Search

Navigation