Ussing Chamber

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The principle of the Ussing chamber according to Hans Ussing:
(1) The epithelial tissue bisects the chamber.
(2) Half-cells with Ringer's solution
(3) (4) Agar-Ringer bridges
(5) Saturated KCl-AgCl solution
(6) Variable direct current source
(7) Ammeter
(8) Saturated KCl calomel electrode
(9) Voltmeter
The basics of membrane potential

The Ussing chamber is an apparatus for measuring properties of the permeability of epithelial tissues . It can be used to record and quantify the transport and barrier functions of living tissue. This technique was invented in 1946 by the Danish physiologist Hans Henriksen Ussing .

With the Ussing chamber, the active ion transport of epithelia and their resistance in terms of concentration and type of ions can be determined with a relatively simple test setup.

construction

The Ussing chamber is used to measure the transport of ions and small organic molecules (nutrients, pollutants, drugs) between different epithelial tissues. It consists of two halves or half-cells that are completely separated by a prepared epithelial tissue . The buffer (superfusate) used is typically a CO 2 / HCO3 - buffered Ringer's solution, such as Krebs-Bicarbonat Ringer (KBR). In this way, undesirable chemical, mechanical and electrical influences are neutralized.

Epithelial cells are polarized cells with different properties on the upper (apical) and the lower (basal) cell membrane . They have a mucosal , apical and a serosal , basal side. The Ussing Chamber takes advantage of this. A voltage and various measuring devices are applied to each of the two half-chambers.

application

Ussing chambers can be used for electrophysiological or diffusion-based studies and for a combination of both. Nuclear medicine examinations are also possible, with the ions being radioactively marked as tracers .

Types

Ussing chambers are available in different sizes, shapes and additional functions. The main types are:

  • Classic chamber system (as developed by Ussing).
  • Autonomous chamber system (the entire apparatus is integrated in a single block)
  • Multi-channel chamber system (2 to 24 independent chambers are combined)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. The Ussing Pulse project (goto.glocalnet.net) ( Memento of the original from September 26, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / goto.glocalnet.net
  2. ^ Lane L. Clarke: A guide to Ussing chamber studies of mouse intestine . In: American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology . tape 296 , no. 6 , June 2009, p. G1151 – G1166 , doi : 10.1152 / ajpgi.90649.2008 , PMC 2697950 (free full text).
  3. Guide to Ussing Chamber Systems. (PDF; 1.6 MB) In: harvardapparatus.com. Warner Instruments, accessed July 12, 2016 .
  4. Ussing Chambers. In: physiologicinstruments.com. Retrieved July 12, 2016 .
  5. ^ Ussing Chamber. In: ussing-chamber.com. Accessed January 31, 2018 .