title: Use of electrophysiological methods in the study of recombinant and native neuronal ligand-gated ion channels.
abstract: Detailed in this unit are protocols for studying the effects of externally and internally applied agents on the behavior of ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs), specifically the GABA(A) receptor. These assays include a number of electrophysiological techniques applied to whole-cell and excised patch recordings of recombinant and native GABA(A) receptor subtypes used in the generation and analysis of a pharmacological data. Although applied to GABA(A) receptors, these techniques are equally applicable to other LGICs. The analysis is extended to incorporate consideration of post-synaptic inhibitory events. In addition, complementary descriptions of how tissues for such studies are prepared for studying recombinant and native receptors are included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Trevor G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Smart
mesh_terms: D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004058:Diffusion; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D058446:Ligand-Gated Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D018755:GABA Agonists; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D058446:Ligand-Gated Ion Channels; D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018079:Receptors, GABA; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C020243:calcium phosphate