title: Combining pharmacology and whole-cell patch recording from CNS neurons, in vivo.
abstract: Whole-cell patch neurophysiology and pharmacological manipulations have provided unprecedented insight into the functions of central neurons, but their combined use has been largely restricted to in vitro preparations. We describe a method for performing whole-cell patch recording and focal application of pharmacological agents in vivo. A key feature of this technique involves iontophoresis of glutamate to establish proximity of drug and recording pipettes. We show data from iontophoresis of glutamate during extracellular and whole-cell recordings made in vivo from auditory neurons in the midbrain of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens, and the effects of blocking GABA(A) receptors while making a whole-cell recording. This methodology should accelerate our understanding of the roles of particular neurotransmitter systems in normal and pathological conditions, and facilitate investigation of the in vivo effects of drugs and the mechanisms underlying computations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. rose@bioscience.utah.edu
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Rishi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Alluri
authors.forename: Gustavo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Vasquez-Opazo
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Odom
authors.forename: Jalina A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Leary
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007478:Iontophoresis; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D011894:Rana pipiens
chemical_list: D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D018698:Glutamic Acid