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Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recordings

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Patch-Clamp Analysis

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 35))

Abstract

The patch-clamp recording technique, which measures ionic currents under voltage-clamp, was design to study small patches of membrane in which near-perfect control of the transmembrane voltage can be readily achieved. The recent application of patchclamp methodology to the analysis of whole-cell current actually defies many of the original design requirements. Nevertheless, wholecell recordings are routinely used in electrophysiology laboratories to study electrical currents carried by ions through ion channels, neurotransmifter receptors, and electrogenic transporters in cell types of virtually any origin. Since the introduction of the patchclamp technique in 1981 (Hamill et al., 1981) and the subsequent rapid development of commercial amplifiers, this method of intracellular recording has essentially replaced sharp electrode recordings, particularly in the study of cultured cells.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

    Harald Sontheimer & Christopher B. Ransom

Authors
  1. Harald Sontheimer
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  2. Christopher B. Ransom
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

    Alan A. Boulton , Glen B. Baker  & Wolfgang Walz ,  & 

  2. Alviva Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Saskatoon, Canada

    Alan A. Boulton

  3. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

    Glen B. Baker

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© 2002 Humana Press Inc.

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Sontheimer, H., Ransom, C.B. (2002). Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recordings. In: Walz, W., Boulton, A.A., Baker, G.B. (eds) Patch-Clamp Analysis. Neuromethods, vol 35. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-276-7:35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-276-7:35

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-013-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-276-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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