An Ussing chamber is a scientific tool used to measure the short-circuit current as an indicator of net ion transport taking place across an epithelium. Ussing chambers are increasingly being used to measure ion transport in native tissue, like gut mucosa, and in a monolayer of cells grown on permeable supports.
The chamber is named for the Danish physiologist Hans Ussing (1911-2000), who invented the device in the 1950s.
An Ussing chamber consists of two halves that are clamped together having the epithelia (sheet of mucosa or monolayer of epithelial cells grown on permeable supports). Note: Epithelia are polar in nature, i.e., they have an apical or mucosal side and a basolateral or serosal side. Thus in an Ussing chamber it is possible to isolate the apical side from the basolateral side. The two half chambers are filled with equal amount of symmetrical Ringer solution in order to remove any chemical, mechanical and electrical driving forces. In any epithelium there is ion transport taking place across it be it from apical side to basolateral side or vice-versa. This ion transport produces a potential difference (voltage difference) across the epithelium. The voltage difference generated is measured using two voltage electrodes that are placed nearer to the tissue/epithelium. And this voltage is cancelled out by injecting the current using another two current electrodes that are placed away from the epithelium. This amount of current injected is called Short-circuit current (Isc) and is the exact measure of net ion transport taking place across the epithlium.
The epithelial ion transport is the factor of greatest interest in research involving Ussing chambers. The voltage that is measured as the voltage difference is a result of this ion transport and the voltage difference is easy to measure accurately. The epithelium pumps ions from one side to the other and the ions leak back through so called tight junctions that are situated between the epithelial cells. In order to measure the ion transport an external current is applied as described above. However by canceling the voltage as described above you get an underestimation of the true ion transport. What you do is to short circuit at the voltage measuring electrodes and not at the epithelium itself. The resistance between the voltage electrodes external to the epithelium has also to be accounted for in some way. The Isc as measured above is always an underestimate of the ion transport and the error can be as much as 10 times. The error is dependent mostly on the chambers. With the type of chambers correctly suggested by Ussing the error is large. This error is often estimated and compensated for by measuring without the tissue present. Such compensations often lead to uncertain values. Many methods exist for better estimation of the ion transport. They involve using alternating current in form of sinus shaped current using several frequencies, square wave pulses, sharp impulses and even random noise. Detailed information and simplified descriptions about these methods can be found on the internet at "The Ussing Pulse project".
There are a few different types of Ussing Chamber Systems available:
The Classic is the fundamental chamber system as designed by Ussing. It consists of a cylindrical tissue holder to which the electrodes and plumbing attach. Tissues are mounted directly onto and are compressed between the two chamber-halves. A variety of tissue chambers are available with both round and slotted openings. The enclosed baths (apical, basolateral) are perfused via a glass circulation reservoir that mounts above the chamber. The reservoir uses a ‘gas-lift’ mechanism to drive circulation and to provide gas tension. Reservoirs are available in 4, 10, and 20 ml volumes.
The Classic with Insert chamber system is the same as the Classic system except that the tissues are supported via inserts. This system also supports cultured cells on Snapwell, Millicell, Falcon, or Transwell culture cups.
The Self-contained chamber systems provide all of the features of the Classic system but houses the full apparatus (chamber, electrodes, and perfusion system) within a single Lucite block. Tissues or cultured cells mount into a two piece assembly (an insert) that is easily placed into the chamber from the top. Temperature control is provided via an external circulating water bath. Self-contained chambers are available in both single and dual channel models. More information in PDF format on these ussing chamber systems can be found at "More Information"
The Multi-channel chamber systems include the Navicyte and EasyMount designs. Both designs make use of a support assembly to hold anywhere from 2 to 24 independent chambers (depending on design) and to couple the perfusion and electronic components to the chambers. Navicyte chambers are available in both horizontal and vertical configurations and the EasyMount chambers are only available in the vertical configuration. • The Navicyte Horizontal configuration accommodates from 1 to 6 chambers and is ideal for studying mucosal layers at an air/liquid interface. Navicyte Horizontal chambers make use of a mounting ring or Snapwell insert to support the tissue of interest. • The Navicyte Vertical configuration is well designed for diffusion-based studies and accommodates from 1 to 24 chambers. Tissues are supported directly in the chamber block and no insert is required. However, a chamber block supporting a Snapwell insert is also available. • The EasyMount configuration accommodates from 2 to 8 chambers and are well designed for electrophysiology-based measurements EasyMount chambers are visually similar to the Navicyte Vertical chambers but differ in that they require the use of an insert to secure and place the tissue into the chamber. More information on these ussing chamber systems can be found at "Ussing Chamber Systems"