UNIT 11.4 Use of Electrophysiological Methods in the Study of Recombinant and Native Neuronal Ligand-Gated Ion Channels

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. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 59:11.4.1-11.4.37. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Keywords: ligand-gated ion channels; electrophysiology; transfection; tissue culture