The Oroboros O2k Respirometer is the standard for High-Resolution Respirometry (HRR). It makes the invisible dynamics of energy flow in living systems measurable and quantifies oxygen consumption with exceptional sensitivity and control. The O2k is designed for the clinical and fundamental research of mitochondrial physiology and offers unparalleled sensitivity for measuring oxygen consumption and other bioenergetic parameters in real time. Its dual-chamber design and precise environmental control enable continuous analysis of mitochondrial function under both physiological and stress conditions.
Why It Matters
Energy metabolism is often the earliest indicator of health insights into aging and disease. With the O2k, researchers can trace how metabolic systems respond to challenge and stress and expose the principles that govern cellular energy and endurance. The system provides the foundation for bioenergetic research across disciplines. Because you can add an unlimited number of substrates and inhibitors, you can “walk” through the entire Electron Transfer System (ETS) in one sample.
O2k goes beyond oxygen consumption
- Modular design allows for the simultaneous measurement of multiple modalities: ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP production, Potentiometry, PhotoBiology, Redox State (NextGen-O2k exclusive)
- High Sensitivity: Detecting very low respiratory rates in small or sparse samples.
- Flexibility: The modular, two-chamber system allows for simultaneous, independent experiments and unlimited manual titrations during a single run
- Adjustable stirring speed to protect fragile cells
- High-resolution across wide ranges of oxygen levels (measuring hyperoxia to near-anoxia)
- The system permits active user interaction and real-time adjustments during the experiment.
Applications
The Oroboros O2k is optimal across various biological preparations:
- Mitochondrial disorders: Research that requires precise control over oxygen tension (hypoxia), or needs to perform complex substrate-inhibitor titrations on isolated mitochondria or tissue biopsies.
- Metabolic Diseases: Research into diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance.
- Aging & Neurodegeneration: Studying mitochondrial decay in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
- Cancer Research: Analyzing the Warburg effect and metabolic reprogramming.
- Exercise Physiology: Evaluating muscle oxidative capacity and mitochondrial biogenesis.
- Hypoxia Research: Precise control over oxygen levels for studying ischemia-reperfusion or high-altitude adaptation.
Supporting the bioenergetics community
We are proud to serve as the exclusive distributor of Oroboros instruments in the states of North Carolina and Washington. Our goal is to support the metabolic research community in both states by helping labs access the O2k platform and the complementary tools they need to keep their work moving forward.