Dendritic Patch

Abstract

So far, we have discussed patch clamp procedures that target the neuronal soma. However, electrical properties of neurons are critically influenced by dendrites, which not only make up a large portion of neuron’s surface area but also receive a large proportion of synaptic inputs. The electrical properties of dendritic membrane and somatic membrane can be very different. Therefore, recording electrical properties directly from dendrites is desired in some experimental designs. Luckily, skilled electrophysiologists have optimized electrophysiological protocols that allow neuronal dendritic recording. Such recordings have provided important information regarding voltage-gated ion channel distribution and function (Bekkers, J Physiol 525(Pt 3):611–620, 2000; Hoffman et al, Nature 387(6636):869–875, 1997; Korngreen, Sakmann, J Physiol 525(Pt 3):621–639, 2000; Magee, J Neurosci 18(19):7613–7624, 1998; Stuart, Hausser, Neuron 13(3):703–712, 1994), differences between somatic and dendritic membrane channel properties (Magee, Cook, Nat Neurosci 3(9):895–903, 2000; Williams, Stuart, Science 295(5561):1907–1910, 2002), and synaptic integration of backpropagating action potentials combined with synaptic potentials (Magee, Johnston, Science 275(5297):209–213, 1997; Stuart, Hausser, Nat Neurosci 4(1):63–71, 2001; Watanabe et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99(12):8366–8371, 2002). The purpose of this chapter is to provide the beginning electrophysiologist with the necessary information required to maximize their success rate for dendritic recordings.