In vitro electroreceptor organs for pharmacological studies.

ABSTRACT

Electroreception is a well-established sensory faculty in aquatic vertebrates. The general physiology of the receptor organs is comprehensively documented. The transduction mechanism of the receptor cells and the synaptic transmission mechanism are less well understood. Research has been hampered by the inaccessibility of the synaptic site. This paper describes how to prepare an in vitro preparation of ampullary electroreceptor organs which allows exposure of both the mucosal and the serosal sides of the receptor cells to superfusion of test solutions. The preparation is quite robust and has been shown to function reliably for more than 8 h. Furthermore, the use of in vitro electroreceptors organs as a model for pharmacological studies is evaluated.