The RC Series are open bath chambers suitable for physiological experiments performed with inverted or dissecting microscopes including patch clamping, recording from oocytes, isolated perfused tubule, and cell impalement. They have also been used for perfusion in fluorescence microscopy. RC Series chambers are made from polycarbonate. Models vary in bath diameter. A #2 thickness coverslip, 24 x 60 mm (user attached) becomes the floor of the bath. The coverslip is attached with vacuum grease or more permanently with Sylgard or RTV cement.
Perfusion can be gravity-fed and removed via suction, or alternatively, input and output can be pump-controlled. The perfusion input accepts standard 1.57 mm OD [PE-160] polyethylene tubing. Solutions are removed from a separate suction reservoir to minimize noise in the recording. The suction tube is adjustable to control the bath solution level. Flow rates can exceed 10 ml/min with gravity feed. Multiple perfusion lines can be connected using one of the MP series manifolds in place of the single line connector supplied with the chamber. An isolated reservoir is provided for an agar bridge in the recording ground circuit. An additional agar bridge well (for oocyte recording) can be specified at no additional cost.
RC-10
This small bath model with 10 mm bath diameter is recommended where small volumes and fast solution exchange is important. Bath volume is 160 µl with 2 mm solution height. A single agar bridge well is supplied on this model.
RC-11, RC-13 & RC-16
These larger bath chambers are used for studies of oocytes, slices and other larger preparations. Models RC-13 and RC-16 may also be used in patch clamp experiments where cultured coverslips are placed in the bath. RC-13 accepts 12 mm diameter coverslips and RC-16 accepts 15 mm diameter coverslips. A groove is milled in the chamber underside to hold the coverslip in place.
Note: The double thickness of glass (bottom + sample coverslips) may not be compatible with some short working distance microscope optics.
Mounting the Chamber
RC series chambers are mounted on a microscope with one of the RC Series Stage Adapters.
These chambers are supplied with one Single Input Perfusion Connector, one Suction Tube and one package of 64-0710 #2 Coverslips (24 x 60 mm). Additional coverslips are also available.