Technical contribution
A simple technique for constructing ‘piggy-back’ multibarrel microelectrodesTechnique simple de construction de microélectrodes à barrils multiples ‘piggy-back’

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Abstract

A method is described for the construction of a 6-barrel electrode, enabling intra- or extracellular recording from a protruding barrel and iontophoretic ejection from the remaining 5 barrels. This method enables each laboratory to employ the recording electrode most suitable for its research. The supplies needed for the assembly of the 6-barrel electrodes are readily available and economical. The assembly of this ‘piggy-back’ electrode requires, with a minimal amount of practice, only 10–15 min.

Résumé

Les auteurs décrivent une méthode permettant de construire une électrode à 6 barrils, permettant l'enregistrement intra- et extracellulaire à partir d'un barril en saillie et l'éjection iontophorétique à partir de 5 barrils restant. Cette méthode permet à tout laboratoire d'utiliser l'électrode d'enregistrement la plus adéquate pour ses recherches. Les matériaux nécessaires pour assembler les électrodes à 6 barrils sont aisément disponibles et de prix modérés. L'assemblage de cette électrode ‘piggy-back’ nécessite, à partir d'un apprentissage minime, 10–15 min seulement.

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Supported by a grant from the Deafness Research Foundation and SIU-SM CRC funds.

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The authors wish to thank Dr. C. Faingold and W. Hoffmann for their critical comments. We also thank D. Smith for typing the manuscript and Biomedical Communications for preparing the figures.

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