Modern tendencies in the development of the patch-clamp technique: new opportunities for neuropharmacology and neurobiology

Abstract

The patch-clamp (PC) technique is the gold standard in studyingprocesses that occur on the membranes of excitable cells,both in the physiological condition and in pathology. However,gaining this unique information is associated with certain difficulties.The technique is very labor intensive and requires highlyqualified specialists and expensive equipment, which greatlylimits its introduction into routine practice of a neurobiologicallaboratory. This article discusses the main advantages and disadvantagesof PC as well as tendencies in improvement of thetechnique and its contribution to the development of neuropharmacologyand neurobiology.

Keywords

• patch-clamp
• neurobiology
• neuropharmacology