Electrophysiology Experiment Clean up

Electrophysiology Experiment Clean Up

1. At the end of the experiment, retract the pipettes from the oocyte by turning the upper adjustment knobs counterclockwise. If you’re not keeping the oocyte, remove it with the “green-tape” plastic pipette and throw it in the waste cup.

2. If you’re not doing more experiments, remove the pipette holders from the boxes, followed by the glass pipettes, which may be discarded in the glass waste.

3. Switch to distilled water. Place the salt bridge back in the KCl container. Cover the Frog Ringer cup with another cup.

NOTE: Steps 2 and 3 may be done in any order.

4. Use the “red-tape” plastic pipette to remove the KCl from the reference well and discard it in the waste cup. Using the “no-tape” plastic pipette, drip distilled water on the reference electrodes until any and all salt deposits are dissolved. At the end, transfer that water into the waste cup. 

5. Turn the power off on the amplifier and oscilloscope. Do NOT turn off the air pump while the water is running. You will flood the rig. Turn the pump off once the cup is empty or the flow has stopped.

Electrode Sanding and Recoating

1. Cut a piece of sand paper big enough to allow you to sand the Ag/AgCl wire on the pipette holder. Fold the sand paper around the electrode and sand by GENTLY pressing, holding, and pulling up on the wire. Repeat until the wire should be shiny.

2. Check Fridge A for any old 50% bleach solutions. If there aren’t any, prepare a 50% bleach solution in a 50 mL beaker. Dip the wire in the solution for 10 seconds. Cover the beaker with Parafilm and store it in Fridge A.

NOTE: If you are recoating the reference electrodes, dip only the pellet into the solution. Then rinse with DI water and set to dry.

3. Insert the back end of the pipette holder into the spout of the big DI water tank until most of the pipette holder is in. Open the valve and let the water run through the pipette holder for 10 seconds. Set the pipette holder in the storage case and let dry overnight.