Investigation of the electrical excitability of neurons by Patch clamp (CAT#: STEM-PET-0024-WXH)
Introduction
Electrical excitability is a fundamental feature of nerve cells, also called neurons. It enables neurons to code and transmit information in the form of electrical impulses to and from the brain.
The patch-clamp technique involves a glass micropipette forming a tight gigaohm seal with the cell membrane. The micropipette contains a wire bathed in an electrolytic solution to conduct ions. To measure single ion channels, a “patch” of membrane is pulled away from the cell after forming a gigaohm seal.
Applications
• Study of ionic currents in individual isolated living cells, tissue sections, or patches of cell membrane. • Study of excitable cells such as neurons, cardiomyocytes, muscle fibers, and pancreatic beta cells. • Study of ion channels.
Procedure
1. Fabrication of glass electrodes 2. Measuring glass electrode resistance and compensating offset potential 3. Glass electrode contact to cell membrane and obtain a GΩ seal 4. Acquire and analyse recordings using the appropriate software.