Technique of dendritic patch-clamp recording in rat visual cortex

Objective To investigate membrane electrophysiological properties of dendrites by whole-cell recording with dendritic patch-clamp technique.Methods Experimental study was taken.By combining infrared differential interference contrast(IR-DIC)technique and CCD-Camera system,clamped proximal dendrites with patch-clamp technique,when the whole-cell recording mode was successful formed,recorded the electrophysiological properties of pyramidal neurons dendrites in rat visual cortex with different holding potentials.Results Successful records were taken at membrane potential of dendritic with the current clamp mode,and spontaneous and evoked postsynaptic responses with voltage-clamp mode when membrane potential was held in different levels.Conclusions Visualized dendritic patch-clamp recording technique can be used to record the membrane potential of dendrites with the current clamp mode,and the spontaneous and evoked postsynaptic responses with the whole-cell recording of dendritic patch-clamp technique,and this new technology is important for further study electrophysiological properties and ion channels of dendrites.