Acute Brain Slice Electrophysiology
Patch-clamp electrophysiology is a core technique in neuroscience and cellular physiology for studying the electrical properties of neurons, and is widely regarded as the gold standard for measuring neuronal activity. Brain slice patch-clamp recording enables in situ measurements from neurons within intact brain regions, preserving local tissue architecture while maintaining single-cell resolution. This approach provides a critical link between molecular mechanisms and circuit-level function.
At SparkMind, our goal is to generate high-quality acute brain slices with well-preserved neuronal morphology, enabling stable and reliable electrophysiological recordings from healthy target cells.
Based on acute brain slice models, we integrate patch-clamp electrophysiology with calcium imaging to characterize neuronal intrinsic properties, synaptic transmission, plasticity, and activity patterns at the local circuit level, supporting fundamental neuroscience research and early-stage drug discovery.
Applications
- Target functional validation through ion channel and receptor-mediated current recordings
- Electrophysiological assessment of drug effects on neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission
- Mechanistic studies in neurological disease models at the circuit and cellular level
- Synaptic plasticity studies, including LTP and LTD paradigms
Brain Slice Patch-Clamp Services
A standard brain slice patch-clamp workflow includes acute slice preparation, recovery in oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF), identification of target neurons under microscopy, formation of a high-resistance seal, and real-time recording of neuronal electrical activity. This approach enables detailed functional analysis while minimizing animal usage.
We provide brain slice patch-clamp electrophysiology services for mice, rats, non-human primates, and brain organoid models, supporting functional studies across multiple brain regions.
- Ion channel function analysis, including voltage- and ligand-gated channels
- Synaptic transmission assessment via EPSC and IPSC recordings
- Neuronal excitability profiling in current-clamp configurations, with optional optogenetic or chemogenetic stimulation
- Synaptic plasticity assays, including LTP, LTD, and paired-pulse ratio measurements
