title: Patch-clamp recordings from the soma and dendrites of neurons in brain slices using infrared video microscopy.
abstract: A description is given of the implementation of infrared differential interference contrast (IR-DIC) video microscopy to an upright compound microscope. Using the improved resolution offered by IR-DIC a procedure is described for making patch-pipette recordings from visually identified neuronal somata and dendrites in brain slices. As an example of the application of this technique to electrophysiological recordings from small neuronal processes in brain slices we describe whole-cell current-clamp and cell-attached and excised patch-clamp recordings from the apical dendrites of layer V pyramidal neurons in slices of rat neocortex.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Abteilung Zellphysiologie, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Dodt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sakmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007259:Infrared Rays; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D014741:Video Recording