Multichannel Systems Roboocyte2 Scripting Manual - Manual (Page 30)

Roboocyte2 Manual
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The loop variable is the valve number, starting with the user defined variable first_compound and
ending with last_compound.
If needed, a leak test can be placed before the application of every agonist application.
If the leak test fails, the message "leak current is not in range - next oocyte" is send to the log
window, all pumps and valves are switched off and the protocol continues with the next selected
oocyte. The break command in line 331 terminates the execution of the loop and the script is
continued after the end of the loop at line 365. The curly bracket in line 368 designates the end of
the oocyte loop, which means that the script will continue with the next selected well/oocyte at
line 89.
3.3 Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Because the external trigger for activating voltage-gated ion channels is usually a change in
membrane potential and not application of an agonist, protocols usually concentrate on voltage
changes instead of solution exchanges. Of course, voltage protocols and solution exchanges still
can be combined in a script; e.g. to modify the activity of voltage-gated ion channels by
application of different compounds.
3.3.1 Expression Test
The detailed design of an expression test will depend on the channel properties, but will always
have a qualitatively similar structure: A voltage step from a potential at which the channels are
inactive to a potential which activates the channels will be applied. The script
"expression_test_vgic_part.js" used here as an example can be found on the Roboocyte2 CD.
First, new variables should be defined. This part can be moved to the beginning of the script.
Secondly, axis scaling and ROI position are set. Using the variables from above guarantees that
scaling and ROI automatically change whenever the pulse timing is changed.