Neutral carrier sodium ion-selective microelectrode for extracellular studies.

A Na+-selective microelectrode based on a synthetic neutral carrier (ETH 157) is described. The selectivities in respect to K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ are adequate for extracellular measurements of Na+ activities. Microelectrodes with tip diameters of about 0.7 micron have an electrical resistance of 3 X 10(10) omega and a 90% response time of less than or equal to 3 s. The drift of the potential difference of the Na+-microelectrode cell assembly in aqueous extracellular electrolyte solutions is less than or equal to 0.2 m V/3 h.