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Some observations on the cerebral cortex with an ultramicro, membrane-covered, oxygen electrode

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Abstract

The method of preparation of a micro platinum-in-glass membrane-covered electrode is described. The electrode has a tip diameter of 2–5μ and can be used for measuring oxygen tension in soft tissues such as brain. Its resolution is high enough to allow measurement of intercapillary oxygen gradients. If the tip is covered by a sufficiently thin membrane the electrode can be used to record electrical activity of single cells concurrently with oxygen tesion. The diffusion zones of oxygen around capillaries in the cortex of rat brain appear to be in the form of truncated cones.

Sommaire

Ce papier décrit une méthode de préparation d'une électrode platine-verre recourverte d'une membrane. Le diamètre de la pointe de l'électrode est de 2–5μ et elle peut être utilisée à mesurer la tension d'oxygène en tissus mous tels que le cerveau. Son incrément de résistance est suffisamment élevé pour permettre de mesurer les gradients d'oxygène intercapillaire. Si la pointe est suffisamment fine, elle peut être utilisée simultanément à mesurer l'activité électrique des cellules individuelles. Chez le rat, la zône de diffusion d'oxygène autour des capillaires dans le cortex apparaît en forme de cônes tronqués.

Zusammenfassung

Die Herstellung einer membranbedeckten Platin/Glas-Mikroelektrode wird beschrieben. Die Elektrodenspitze hat einen Durchmesser von 2–5 μ. Sauerstoffspannungen in weichen Geweben wie Gehirn können gemessen werden. Die Auflösung ist genügend groß zur Messung interkapillärer Sauerstoffgradienten. Wenn die Spitze mit einer genügend dünnen Membran bedeckt ist, kann die Elektrode zur gleichzeitigen Messung der Sauerstoffspannung und der elektrischen Aktivität einzelner Zellen verwandt werden. Die Diffusions-zone des Sauerstoffs um die Kapillaren in der Rattenhirnrinde scheint die Form von Kegelstümpfen zu haben.

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  1. Sub-Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Downing Site, University of Cambridge, England

    I. A. Silver

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  1. I. A. Silver
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Silver, I.A. Some observations on the cerebral cortex with an ultramicro, membrane-covered, oxygen electrode. Med. Electron. Biol. Engng 3, 377–387 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02476132

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02476132

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