Patch-Clamp Techniques
| Definition: |
An electrophysiologic technique for studying cells, cell membranes, and occasionally isolated organelles. All patch-clamp methods rely on a very high-resistance seal between a micropipette and a membrane; the seal is usually attained by gentle suction. The four most common variants include on-cell patch, inside-out patch, outside-out patch, and whole-cell clamp. Patch-clamp methods are commonly used to voltage clamp, that is control the voltage across the membrane and measure current flow, but current-clamp methods, in which the current is controlled and the voltage is measured, are also used. |
| Notes: |
a cytol technique for removing a tiny patch of plasma membrane; NIM |
| Also Called: |
Voltage-Clamp Techniques,Whole-Cell Recording |
| Previously Indexed: |
Electrophysiology (1975-1994),Ion Channels (1978-1994),Membrane Potentials (1975-1994) |
Patch-Clamp Techniques Definitions and Terms
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