A mobile intracellular microelectrode designed to record from neurons in contracting tissue

Intracellular recording from neurons in moving tissue allows data to be gathered in circumstances that are physiologically more realistic than those requiring pharmacological or mechanical suppression of movement. The construction of a mobile, suspended microelectrode assembly is described. Short glass microelectrodes were attached to a flexible length of 100 micrometer silver wire. A finer wire was inserted in the shank of the microelectrode to carry the electrical signal. Recordings were made from myenteric neurons of the guinea pig ileum, which was moving during the recording session. Intracellular recordings were maintained while the electrodes followed movements of 1 mm or more.