Device and method for measuring impedance in organotypic tissues

The present invention refers to a device for measuring impedance in organotypic tissue comprising at least one recording chamber with a liquid permeable membrane supporting the organotypic tissue, at least one bottom electrode and at least one top electrode, wherein the liquid permeable membrane divides the recording chamber into a top chamber and a bottom chamber, wherein at least the bottom chamber contains culture medium for the organotypic tissue, and the bottom electrode(s) is/are located in the bottom chamber and the top electrode(s) is/are located in the top chamber, and wherein the organotypic tissue is located between the bottom electrode(s) and the top electrode(s). The present invention also refers to the use of the device according to the present invention for measuring impedance in organotypic tissue. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for analyzing the effect of test compounds on pathological and non-pathological organotypic tissue by meassuring the impedance of the organotypic tissue, wherein the organotypic tissue is cultured in a culture medium during the time of the analysis and the impedance of the organotypic tissue is measured at least once before and at least once after treating the organotypic tissue with the test compound or the impedance of the organotypic tissue treated with the test compound is compared to a non-treated organotypic tissue, wherein the impedance is measured using at least one electrode at each of two opposing sides of the organotypic tissue, and the electrodes are contacted with the culture medium or the tissue during measuring the impedance.