Ussing Chamber: The Complete Guide (Principles, Protocols, Troubleshooting & Product Selector)
This lab-ready guide explains how Ussing chambers quantify epithelial transport, provides reproducible short-circuit current (SCC) and TEER workflows, and helps you choose the right system from Physiologic Instruments for consistent, publication-quality data.
What is an Ussing Chamber?
An Ussing chamber measures transepithelial ion transport across cell or tissue preparations by clamping voltage and recording current (SCC) or by measuring resistance (TEER).
Behind the science: In SCC mode, tissue is held at 0 mV and the amplifier injects current to oppose the native transepithelial potential; this injected current is proportional to ion transport.
Core Components
Chambers & Sliders
Hold tissue/inserts and define aperture & volume.
Electrodes
Ag/AgCl voltage-sensing + current-passing pairs.
Amplifier / Clamp
Multichannel control for SCC/TEER.
Perfusion & Heating
Maintain temperature, gas, and solution exchange.
When to Use an Ussing Chamber
- CFTR and ENaC function studies
- Barrier integrity via TEER
- Drug transport and permeability
- Time- and dose-response kinetics
Validated SCC Protocol
- Prep buffers and electrodes
- Mount tissue, confirm no leaks
- Clamp at 0 mV, record SCC
- Apply sequence: amiloride → cAMP agonist → inhibitor
- Check quality gates and export data
Quick TEER Workflow
- Apply a small V step
- Compute R = ΔV / ΔI, area corrected
- Trend TEER over time
Data Quality Checklist
- Matched electrodes
- Stable temperature
- No bubbles crossing aperture
- Fresh reagents, matched osmolarities
Troubleshooting Matrix
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Unstable baseline | Offsets/bubbles | Re-seat electrodes, degas buffers |
| Low SNR | Grounding issues | Improve earth/line routing |
| No inhibitor-sensitive current | Reagent/sequence error | Check order, concentrations |
Product Selector
| Use Case | System | Benefits | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell monolayers | EM8-C EasyMount | Broad compatibility | View |
| Low volumes | EM8-LV | Faster equilibration | View |
| Rat tissue | EM8-R | Specialized tooling | View |
| 8-channel | VCC MC8 Clamp | Parallel SCC/TEER | View |
FAQs
What aperture should I choose?
Match aperture to tissue thickness and current.
How do I avoid drift?
Stabilize temperature, avoid bubbles, equilibrate.
Can I run SCC and TEER on the same prep?
Yes, run SCC under clamp and pulse for TEER.
Browse all systems: Ussing Chamber Systems Collection