Key Points
- To design a device that allows rapid exchange of solutions surrounding intact cardiac cells for physiological applications.
- Developed a device using double-barreled glass tubing and a miniature solenoid.
- Positioned a single cardiac cell in one of two solution streams from the device.
- Measured solution switching speed and its effect on membrane potential changes.
- Achieved solution switching in 7 ms with the device.
- Observed delayed surface solution change in guinea pig ventricular cells at 150 ms due to restricted diffusion.
- Enabled solution changes during action potentials and voltage-clamp pulses.
Structured PICO
PPopulationSingle intact cardiac cells (guinea pig ventricular cells)
IInterventionA simple device consisting of double-barreled glass tubing (theta-tubing) attached to a miniature solenoid for rapid solution switching
OOutcomeTime required to change the solution (bulk solution and at the membrane surface)
The described device enables rapid extracellular solution changes during action potentials and voltage-clamp pulses in single cardiac cells.