ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY FACILITIES

A high resolution respirometer unit Oroboros O2k (Oroboros Instruments GmbH) is available in our facilities. This unit is designed to study mitochondrial physiology, including isolated mitochondria, intact or permeabilized cells and permeabilized tissues. 

This equipment is able to measure both oxygen’s concentration and flow at real time with very high accuracy, allowing the supply of different compounds (for instance, substrates and/or mitochondrial inhibitors) by using Hamilton microliter syringes. 

Oroboros O2k works with two respiration glass chambers with minimal oxygen diffusion: high resolution of oxygen flow: ±1 pmol O₂/s/mL in normoxia to anoxia; and high resolution of oxygen concentration: 5 nM. The system can work with 2 mL volumes, but is able to use 0,5 mL microchambers in order to maximize sample concentration and use the minimum possible sample quantity. Temperature is kept in a range between 4 and 47 ºC with high stability and precision (Peltier thermostat). In addition, the system has two PVDF shakers with electromagnetic control with the aim of maximizing the resolution while measuring oxygen consumption and an acquisition and data analysis software.

This equipment has been acquired thanks to an intervention co-financiated by the European Union through the Programa Operativo del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) from the Comunitat Valenciana 2014-2020 (PROJECT: IDIFEDER2020/022).