Whole-Cell Recording
Whole cell recording is the most commonly used configuration of the patch clamp technique. It is achieved by rupturing the patch of membrane isolated by the patch pipette bringing the cell interior into contact with the pipette interior. Using the whole cell patch clamp design of experiment one can then record the electrical activity of the entire cell via several modes. Voltage clamp, where the potential difference across the cell membrane is controlled and current measured, or current clamp, controlling the current and measuring the voltage across the membrane are the two main modes of whole cell recording. These recording configurations are very powerful techniques in the study of ion channel activity, aspects of neuronal behaviour and synaptic transmission. Our range of HEKA and NPI patch clamp amplifiers are perfect for carrying out whole cell patch clamp recordings.
One major problem in whole recording is series resistance. Employing the ‘Discontinuous single electrode voltage clamp’ (dSEVC) technique is a very useful procedure to overcome the series resistance. The dSEVC separates the current injection from potential measurement in time, by rapid switching between a current injection mode and potential measuring mode. This ensures that no current passes through the resistor created at the pipette/cell interface during potential recording and completely eliminates series resistance artifacts. Provided the switching frequency between the current injection- and voltage measuring-mode is high enough, the plasma membrane can be clamped to a steady membrane potential. Our NPI SEC range of amplifiers are designed specifically for dSEVC being the fastest and most accurate single-electrode current – and voltage – clamp systems available.
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