The technique for macropatching is similar to tight seal single-channel recording. The electrodes are pulled to larger tip diameters than would be used for single-channel recording; however, with single-channel recording, following initial contact with the membrane, suctions is applied to form an electrically and mechanically tight seal in gigohm range. Recordings can be obtained in the cell-attached configuration or from inside-out or outside-out membrane patches.

The objective, for many laboratories using this technique, is to record from specific areas of the membrane relative to known specializations, for example, the distribution of the ion channels in the pre- or postsynaptic membrane, dendritic vs somatic membranes. Macropatch electrodes have resistances in the range 0.5-3MOhms and are in the order of 2-8um diam. Our range of HEKA and NPI patch clamp amplifiers are particularly suited for such recordings.

Equipment:

• HEKA EPC-10
• KS 9100 series table
• ALA VC³ with  ALA PR-10 and ALA MLF or ALA OctaFlow
• ALA MS Chambers
• HEKA PatchMaster
• ALA HSSE-2/3