Patch-clamp
Patch-clamp is a laboratory technique in Electrophysiology used to study ionic currents in individual isolated living cells, tissue sections, or patches of cell membrane. The technique is especially prominent in the study of neurons and cardiomyocytes, although it can be applied to any kind of electrically active cell.
History[edit | edit source]
The patch-clamp technique was developed by Erwin Neher and Bert Sakmann in the late 1970s. The two scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1991 for their work.
Technique[edit | edit source]
The patch-clamp technique involves the use of a glass pipette, which is brought into contact with a cell membrane. A vacuum is applied to the pipette, causing a piece of the cell membrane to adhere to the pipette tip, forming a 'patch'. The ionic currents through the membrane patch can then be measured.
There are several variations of the patch-clamp technique, including:
- Cell-attached patch - The pipette is attached to the cell membrane, but does not break it. This allows for the study of the activity of individual ion channels within the patch.
- Whole-cell patch - The pipette breaks the cell membrane, allowing for the study of the cell's overall electrical activity.
- Inside-out patch - The pipette is pulled away from the cell after forming a cell-attached patch, bringing a piece of the cell membrane with it. This allows for the study of the intracellular side of the membrane.
- Outside-out patch - After forming a whole-cell patch, the pipette is pulled away from the cell, causing the membrane to reseal itself around the pipette tip. This allows for the study of the extracellular side of the membrane.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Patch-clamp is widely used in the study of neuroscience, cardiology, and pharmacology. It allows for the detailed study of ion channels, which are crucial for the electrical activity of cells. This has led to important discoveries in the understanding of diseases such as cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, and various cardiac arrhythmias.
See also[edit | edit source]
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
 | This cardiovascular system article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
 | This pharmacology-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
