In Vivo Patch-Clamp Technique

The whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique (Marty and Neher, 1995 ) is nowadays a standard method for studying electrophysiological properties of the cellular membranes and synaptic inputs. This technique has been applied mainly to in vitro preparations such as culture cells, dissociated cells, and brain slices, contributing greatly to our understanding of ionic mechanisms of channels/receptors, and synaptic transmission in the neuronal circuits. However, the physiological significance of the neuronal and synaptic activities observed in such in vitro preparations remains to be clarified.