Xenopus laevis, stage V oocytes

Treatment exposure modality:	Temporary immersion
Efficacy type:	Current amplitude (A or %)
Stock solution:	20 mM in DMSO or H₂O
Volume / datapoint:	1 μL (triplicates)
Starting concentration:	10 μM

In Brief:

This protocol allows the pharmacological characterization of voltage-gated channel.

Voltage-gated ion channels are a class of transmembrane proteins that form ion channels that are activated by changes in the electrical membrane potential near the channel. The membrane potential alters the conformation of the channel proteins, regulating their opening and closing. The membrane potential is clamped at a fixed value and voltage steps can be applied at regular intervals.

Definitions:

To ensure flawless communication, the following definition section introduces the vocabulary used at INVENesis. You will find this vocabulary on our quotes, raw data files, processed data files, preliminary and final reports. Open the Lexicon below.

Lexicon

Assay Preparation:

Test plate: microplate in which an assay is run
Mother plate: microplate containing stock solutions
Stock solution: solution contained in mother plates out of which dilutions will be made
Daugher plate: microplate containing solutions used to treat test plates, usually dilution series

Type of Assays:

Organism-based assays : functional assay measuring a phenotypic response on a whole organism. Typically, motility, development, deterrency, repellency.
Electrophysiology assays: functional assay measuring the electrical respons of a receptor or an organ to a stimulus
Stock solution: solution contained in mother plates out of which dilutions will be made
Daugher plate: microplate containing solutions used to treat test plates, usually dilution series

Treatment exposure modalities:

Treatment modalities relate to the way the treatment is applied. Different treatment modalities help define how an active ingredient is most susceptible to act in a field case. Some compounds are more active when eaten, others are more active when applied externally on an organism. The following vocabulary is used in the list of assays:

Tarsal:

Tarsal: individuals are allowed to walk on surfaces treated with a formulated active ingredient.
Tarsal with choice: only a proportion of the surface accessible to individuals is treated.
Tarsal without choice: the whole surface accessible to individuals is treated so that individuals are unable to rest on untreated surfaces.

Topical:

Topical: direct application of a known amount of formulated active ingredient on a single individual

Oral:

Oral: voluntary feeding on medium treated with a formulated active ingredient.
Oral with choice: both a treated and an untreated medium are provided.
Oral without choice: only one treated medium is provided.

Immersion:

Immersion: individuals are immersed in a treated formulation.
Permanent Immersion: individuals are immersed for the whole duration of the assay.
Temporary Immersion: the treatment is removed after temporary immersion of individuals.