Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology
Measuring functional activity in neuronal cultures with patch-clamp electrophysiology can be technically demanding. Whether the goal is to examine action potential activity in brain tissue or neuronal signaling in culture, patch-clamp experiments require considerable time, specialized equipment and the skill needed to establish stable, effective gigaohm seals.
Our neuroelectrophysiology team comprises experienced research scientists using gold-standard manual patch-clamp systems to address different research needs.
Single-Cell Patch-Clamp Recording
Research into cognitive decline, schizophrenia, neuropathic pain or epilepsy often requires a precise understanding of how candidate compounds affect neurotransmission.
Manual patch clamp enables high-resolution recording from individual neurons to investigate physiological and pharmacological questions. It is a gold-standard method for studying cellular electrical activity.
Patch-clamp experiments typically use a borosilicate glass electrode with a tip diameter of 1–2 μm, filled with an electrolyte solution. The tip contacts the neuronal membrane and forms a tight electrical seal that isolates a small membrane patch. Currents flowing through ion channels in this region are recorded through the electrode and amplified for analysis.
A gigaohm seal between the electrode tip and the membrane enables measurements related to membrane conductance. Manual patch clamp is widely used to characterize the functional phenotype of mature neurons differentiated from stem cells, and to assess how ion channel agonists or inhibitors modulate ionic currents in primary neurons or brain tissue.
Experimental Models and Recording Contexts
Model selection is matched to the experimental question and recording configuration. The culture and acute-slice models listed below cover in vitro and ex vivo studies; in vivo or reflex-related measurements require a separately defined experimental approach.
- Neurons differentiated from iPSCs / hESCs
- Primary neurons from cortex, hippocampus or striatum
- Acute brain slices
Electrophysiological Endpoints
- Long-term potentiation (LTP)
- Reflex-related measures, including H-M reflex measures, where a suitable, separately defined electrophysiological preparation is used
- Evoked and spontaneous postsynaptic potentials / currents
- Excitatory / inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP / IPSP)
- Excitatory / inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSC / IPSC)
Endpoint suitability depends on the model and recording configuration. Reflex measurements are not obtained from an isolated single-cell patch-clamp recording.
What Is Single-Cell Recording?
Single-cell recording measures the electrophysiological activity of an individual neuron. A microelectrode is positioned in a brain slice or at an individual neuron, using the appropriate recording configuration to track membrane potential and its changes over time. Action potentials are an important component of these voltage changes, making single-cell recording a key method for investigating neuronal excitability.
Research Applications of Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology
Patch clamp is a powerful method for measuring intracellular action potentials and resolving electrical activity at the level of individual neurons. Its high-resolution recordings provide information that complements other functional assays.
Researchers use patch clamp to address questions such as:
- Do stem-cell-derived neurons exhibit mature functional properties?
- How is neuronal function altered in transgenic animals or disease models?
- How do drugs affect ion channels, synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability?
Patch clamp connects disease-mechanism research, drug development and cellular functional analysis.
