Combining loose cell-attached stimulation and recording

Many synaptic-physiology experiments require selective stimulation of presy naptic neurones. No single method for achieving this is entirely satisfacto ry. Presynaptic whole-cell or microelectrode recordings offer outstanding c ontrol, but establishing such recordings of synaptically-connected neurones can be very time consuming. Minimal stimulation provides too little inform ation regarding the condition and excitation of the presynaptic neurone(s). In the loose cell-attached configuration, it is possible both to stimulate individual cells and to record their action potentials, but most commercia lly-available equipment will not enable Combining stimulation and recording . We demonstrate simultaneous loose cell-attached stimulation and recording of action potentials using a specially-designed patch-clamp amplifier. Sin ce no tight seal is required, the method permits electrode re-use, thus ena bling rapid screening of presynaptic cells while stimulating them selective ly. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.