A microscope diffusion chamber for the determination of the equilibrium and non-equilibrium osmotic response of individual cells.

A microscope diffusion chamber has been developed which allows direct observation of the dynamic osmotic response of individual cells in micro-volume suspensions. Continuous observation of stationary cells is possible including short experimental times while the extracellular chemical composition is changed. Multiple changes of solute type or concentration are easily imposed upon a single sample volume. Response times are a function of chamber configuration but response times as low as 1-10 s are possible with negligible solute concentration gradients within the sample region. The chamber is simple and economical to construct and use. It is the size of an ordinary glass microslide and it can be adapted easily to any common laboratory microscope. All standard optical techniques may be used with the chamber. Construction details and operating characteristics including important limitations are discussed. Example photomicrographs and osmotic data are included.