Abstract
Small d.c. electrical signals have been detected in many biological systems and often serve important functions in cells and organs. For example, we have recently found that they play a far more important role in directing cell migration in wound healing than previously thought. Here, we describe the manufacture and use of a simplified ultrasensitive vibrating probe system for measuring extracellular electrical currents. This vibrating probe is an insulated, sharpened metal wire with a small platinum-black tip (10-30 μm), which can detect ionic currents in the μA cm-2 range in physiological saline. The probe is vibrated at about 300 Hz by a piezoelectric bender. In the presence of an ionic current, the probe detects a voltage difference between the extremes of its movement. The basic, low-cost system we describe is readily adaptable to most laboratories interested in measuring physiological electric currents associated with wounds, developing embryos and other biological systems.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 661-669 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Nature Protocols |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Cite this
Non-invasive measurement of bioelectric currents with a vibrating probe. / Reid, Brian; Nuccitelli, Richard; Zhao, Min.
In: Nature Protocols, Vol. 2, No. 3, 03.2007, p. 661-669.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-invasive measurement of bioelectric currents with a vibrating probe
AU - Reid, Brian
AU - Nuccitelli, Richard
AU - Zhao, Min
PY - 2007/3
Y1 - 2007/3
N2 - Small d.c. electrical signals have been detected in many biological systems and often serve important functions in cells and organs. For example, we have recently found that they play a far more important role in directing cell migration in wound healing than previously thought. Here, we describe the manufacture and use of a simplified ultrasensitive vibrating probe system for measuring extracellular electrical currents. This vibrating probe is an insulated, sharpened metal wire with a small platinum-black tip (10-30 μm), which can detect ionic currents in the μA cm-2 range in physiological saline. The probe is vibrated at about 300 Hz by a piezoelectric bender. In the presence of an ionic current, the probe detects a voltage difference between the extremes of its movement. The basic, low-cost system we describe is readily adaptable to most laboratories interested in measuring physiological electric currents associated with wounds, developing embryos and other biological systems.
AB - Small d.c. electrical signals have been detected in many biological systems and often serve important functions in cells and organs. For example, we have recently found that they play a far more important role in directing cell migration in wound healing than previously thought. Here, we describe the manufacture and use of a simplified ultrasensitive vibrating probe system for measuring extracellular electrical currents. This vibrating probe is an insulated, sharpened metal wire with a small platinum-black tip (10-30 μm), which can detect ionic currents in the μA cm-2 range in physiological saline. The probe is vibrated at about 300 Hz by a piezoelectric bender. In the presence of an ionic current, the probe detects a voltage difference between the extremes of its movement. The basic, low-cost system we describe is readily adaptable to most laboratories interested in measuring physiological electric currents associated with wounds, developing embryos and other biological systems.
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U2 - 10.1038/nprot.2007.91
DO - 10.1038/nprot.2007.91
M3 - Article
VL - 2
SP - 661
EP - 669
JO - Nature Protocols
JF - Nature Protocols
SN - 1754-2189
IS - 3
ER -