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Single or Double Patch-Clamp Recordings In Ex Vivo Slice Preparation: Functional Connectivity, Synapse Dynamics, and Optogenetics

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Patch Clamp Electrophysiology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2188))

Abstract

Patch-clamp recordings are the method of choice to define cell-type specific electrophysiological properties of single neurons and the synaptic connectivity between pairs of connected neurons in brain slices. In combination with optogenetic tools, patch-clamp recordings allow for the investigation of long-range afferent connectivity from identified distant brain areas. Here we describe the necessary equipment to carry out patch clamp recordings, surgical methods for dissection and preparation of horizontal brain slices containing the hippocampus, and a step-by-step guide for establishing patch clamp recordings in the whole-cell configuration. We provide protocols for single neuron stimulation via the patch pipette and for photostimulation experiments that activate axon terminals expressing light sensitive ion channels.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Humboldt Universiteat zu Berlin, Bernstein Center For Computational Neuroscience and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft BR 3479/12-1 (J.S.), the French Ministry for Education and Research (L.R.) and Agence Nationale de la Recherche Grant ANR-18-CE92-0051-01 (D.F.). We thank François Simon and Brandon Stell for critically reading the manuscript.

Disclosures: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Jean Simonnet

  2. CNRS (Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center, UMR 8002), Paris, France

    Louis Richevaux & Desdemona Fricker

  3. Université de Paris, Saints-Pères, Paris, France

    Louis Richevaux & Desdemona Fricker

Authors
  1. Jean Simonnet
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  2. Louis Richevaux
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  3. Desdemona Fricker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Desdemona Fricker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Reading, Reading, UK

    Mark Dallas

  2. Sophion Bioscience A/S, Ballerup, Denmark

    Damian Bell

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Simonnet, J., Richevaux, L., Fricker, D. (2021). Single or Double Patch-Clamp Recordings In Ex Vivo Slice Preparation: Functional Connectivity, Synapse Dynamics, and Optogenetics. In: Dallas, M., Bell, D. (eds) Patch Clamp Electrophysiology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2188. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0818-0_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0818-0_15

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0817-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0818-0

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