title: Whole-cell patch clamp recordings from rhythmically active motoneurons in the isolated spinal cord of the chick embryo.
abstract: Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were obtained during motor activity from electrically identified motoneurons within the spinal cord of the chick embryo maintained in vitro. Most recordings were performed on E11-E13 motoneurons although it was also possible to record from younger cells (E7-E9). Voltage clamp recordings were used to characterize the synaptic currents expressed in femoro-tibialis (extensor) motoneurons during motor activity. These motoneurons exhibited rhythmic excitatory currents with reversal potentials near 0 mV. This powerful technique enables high resolution recordings from identified motoneurons in situ and allows investigation of the membrane and synaptic mechanisms involved in the development of embryonic motility.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neural Control, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sernagor
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004566:Electrodes; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology