Stimulating Pipette Assembly
Stimulating Pipette Assembly - Related Videos
06:35
Introduction to Serological Pipettes and Pipettors
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2023
The serological pipette is frequently used in the laboratory for transferring milliliter volumes of liquid, from less than 1 ml to up to 50 ml. The pipettes can be sterile, plastic, and disposable or sterilizable, glass and reusable. Both kinds of pipettes use a pipet-aid, for the aspiration and dispensation of liquids. Different sizes of pipettes can be used with the same pipet-aid for a variety of experimental assays. For example, serological pipettes are useful for mixing chemical solutions...
11:36
Assembly, Loading, and Alignment of an Analytical Ultracentrifuge Sample Cell
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Cited by 21 •
2009
The analytical ultracentrifuge (AUC) sample cell holds sample and reference buffer and during experiments and is exposed to high vacuum and rotor speeds up to 60,000 rpm. This video will demonstrate the rigorous attention to detail necessary for assembly, loading and alignment of this very important component of an AUC experiment.
05:30
Making Patch-pipettes and Sharp Electrodes with a Programmable Puller
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Cited by 22 •
2008
This video shows how to use a programmable puller to make patch pipettes and sharp electrodes for electrophysiology. The same procedure can be used to make a variety of glass tools, including injection needles.
11:02
Combining Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and fMRI to Examine the Default Mode Network
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Cited by 17 •
2010
In this article, we examine the methodology and considerations relevant to the combination of TMS and fMRI to examine the effects of brain stimulation on the default network.
13:05
Micropatterning and Assembly of 3D Microvessels
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Cited by 12 •
2016
This manuscript presents an injection molding method to engineer microvessels that recapitulate physiological properties of endothelium. The microfluidic-based process creates patent 3D vascular networks with tailorable conditions, such as flow, cellular composition, geometry, and biochemical gradients. The fabrication process and examples of potential applications are described.
FAQs
Electrical current travels from the external electrode or wire through the internal conductive solution and toward the glass pipette tip. The tip provides the point where stimulation is delivered to nearby neural tissue, allowing the experimenter to alter membrane potential. This controlled electrical influence can reveal whether neurons respond and how strongly they respond to stimulation.
The conductive solution creates an electrical pathway inside the glass pipette, while the inserted wire or electrode connects that pathway to the stimulation source. Both components are necessary for reliable current transmission. If electrical contact is inconsistent, the delivered stimulus may vary, making neuronal responses more difficult to compare across trials or interpret in relation to membrane excitability.
Consistent construction reduces variation in how electrical stimulation reaches neurons or neural tissue. A comparable glass pipette, conductive interior, and electrode connection help produce more reproducible stimulation conditions between experiments. This matters because differences in assembly can contribute to variation in electrophysiological responses, potentially obscuring effects related to neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, or circuit connectivity.
The assembly affects how reliably a stimulus is delivered, so it directly influences confidence in the resulting electrophysiological measurements. Reliable electrical contact and consistent construction help distinguish biological differences from technical variability. Consequently, observed changes in neuronal or circuit responses can be interpreted more effectively when the stimulation system delivers controlled and repeatable electrical input.
Preparation begins with a pulled glass pipette, followed by introducing an internal conductive solution and inserting a wire or electrode into the assembly. The components must be arranged to provide electrical continuity from the electrode through the pipette toward the tip. Careful preparation supports controlled stimulation and limits variability during experiments involving neurons or neural tissue.
Researchers use this assembly when they need to apply controlled electrical stimulation while examining neural function. It can support experiments that test neuronal excitability, investigate synaptic transmission, or probe circuit connectivity. By linking stimulation to electrophysiological responses, the approach helps characterize how individual neurons or neural tissue respond to electrical input within a controlled experimental setting.