Extracellular Perfusion Controller for Electrophysiology

This paper describes the design and utility of a perfusion controller to facilitate the handling of multiple extracellular solutions. The controller consists of an interface box with both manual and computer controls and a set of solenoid valves. This provides remote handling of the switching of multiple solutions into an experimental chamber. It is described how this system can be used in whole-cell patch-clamp experiments to measure various ion channel currents as well as Na/K pump currents. Other possible uses are discussed along with suggestions for interfacing the perfusion controller with existing perfusion systems.