What is electrophysiology?
Electrophysiology is the field of research studying current or voltage changes across a cell membrane.
Electrophysiology techniques are widely used across a diverse range of neuroscience and physiological applications; from understanding the behavior of single ion channels in a cell membrane, to whole-cell changes in the membrane potential of a cell, to larger scale changes in field potential within the brain slices in vitro or brain regions in vivo.
Patch-clamping, one of the most widely used electrophysiology techniques, is the best tool to study the activity of ion channels, which are major targets for researchers due to the key role they play in many neurological and cardiovascular diseases, as well as their physiological functions.
Extracellular field-potential recording technique can be used to study the synaptic activity of a population of neurons, and it can help us understand how information is processed in the brain.
Electrophysiology lab
Each electrophysiological labratory setup is different, reflecting the requirements of the experiment or the foibles of the experimenter. Here we describe components and considerations that are common to all setups dedicated to measure electrical activity in cells. An electrophysiological setup has four main lab requirements:
- Environment — the means of keeping the preparation healthy;
- Optics — a means of visualizing the preparation;
- Mechanics — a means of stably positioning the microelectrode; and
- Electronics — a means of amplifying and recording the signal.
The illustration below shows a standard electrophysiology rig setup – a table and cage to shield your setup from external interference; microscope with micromanipulator for stably positioning the microelectrode; an amplifier to collect and amplify the acquired signals; a digitizer to convert the analogue signals into digital signals, and data acquisition and analysis software, to both set up the experimental protocols and extract meaningful, actionable results from the data collected.
Electrophysiology solution: Axon equipment
The Axon™ instrument portfolio provides a comprehensive solution for patch-clamping that includes amplifiers, digitizer, software, and accessories. Our best-in-class instruments facilitate the entire range of patch-clamp electrophysiology techniques from the smallest single-channel to the largest macroscopic recordings.
The Axon pCLAMP™ 11 Software Suite is the most widely used electrophysiology data acquisition and analysis program for control and recording of voltage-clamp, current-clamp, and patch-clamp experiments. Several key features listed below help streamline workflow, allowing you to do more sophisticated experiments, execute them more efficiently and generate higher quality data.
What is an patch clamp amplifier? An instrument that contains the circuitry required to measure electrical currents passing through ion channels or changes in cell membrane potential.
Why use it? To measure changes in current or voltage. The amplifier contains the circuitry necessary to measure current passing through the cell membrane both in magnitude and direction.
The amplifier can also measure the cell membrane potential in response to the movement of current. To initiate current movement, the experimenter can deliver a voltage command to the cell, and the cell will respond by passing the current necessary to maintain that voltage command. Conversely, the experimenter may also inject current and then measure the change in membrane potential resulting from that change in current. Choosing where to amplify and filter the signal of interest has implications on signal fidelity. The ideal place to amplify the signal is inside the recording instrument. All models of Axon™ amplifiers use this strategy with variable gain control on the output to provide low-noise amplification of the pipette current or membrane potential. Placing the amplification inside the recording instrument minimizes the amount of circuitry between the low-level signal and amplifying circuitry reducing extraneous noise sources.
Available amplifiers: Axopatch™ 200B, MultiClamp™ 700B, Axoclamp™ 900A
What is it? The digitizer is a data acquisition instrument that converts analog signals into digital signals.
Why use it? Digitizers capture data for analysis.
The current acquired by the amplifier is an analog signal, but in order to perform data analysis needed for high resolution patch-clamp measurements, the analog signal must be converted into a digital one. Positioned between the amplifier and the computer, the digitizer accomplishes this important task. The signal quality the computer receives is extraordinarily important, and this is determined by the sampling frequency, or sampling rate. The latest generation of Digidata® digitizers has the capability of sampling at 500 kHz and is equipped with the HumSilencer™ feature, which can eliminate 50/60 Hz line-frequency noise.
Available amplifiers: Digidata 1550B Low Noise Data Acquisition System plus HumSilencer
What is it? Patch clamp data and acquisition and analysis software is your interface with the amplifier, digitizer, and any other patch-clamp electronics.
Why use it? To perform data acquisition and data analysis, as well as to control the digitizer and amplifier.
While the amplifier and digitizer together hold the key circuitry that implements a patch-clamp experiment, the software controls these instruments so they deliver the desired potential(s) and measure the resulting current or voltage. In addition, the software analyses the acquired signal with user-defined settings, which can include filtering, normalization, noise removal, curve fitting, and parameter determination.
Available amplifiers: pCLAMP™ 11 Software
What is it? A device that holds the micropipettes with built-in circuitry to transmit electrical signals from the micropipettes onto the amplifier.
Why use it? The electrical signal acquired by the micropipette needs to be transmitted to amplifier systems for signal processing.
Each headstage is specifically tuned for the amplifier. All headstages contain critical electric circuitry that reduce noise. The headstage is also mechanically controlled by the micromanipulator.
Available headstages: Axon headstages
What is it? The microscope is an optical magnification tool. The micromanipulator is a device that mechanically maneuvers the micropipette with nanometer precision, typically allowing 3-dimensional movements.
Why use it? To precisely and stably position the micropipette to the area of cell membrane, which is critical for successful recording.
Accurately placing a patch electrode onto a 10-20 µm cell requires an optical system that can magnify up to 300- or 400- fold with contrast enhancement (e.g. Nomarski/DIC, Phase, or Hoffman) and a micromanipulator that stably positions the electrode in 3D space. An inverted microscope is preferable because it allows easier access for electrodes from above the preparation and also provides a larger, more solid platform to bolt the micromanipulator. A micromanipulator has the ability to move the electrode in very minute distances along the X, Y, and Z axes. The micromanipulator can then hold that position indefinitely.
What is it? A table and cage around your patch-clamp setup to isolate sources of interference.
Why use it? To shield your setup from external interference.
Electrical currents measured during patch-clamp experiments can be extremely small (in the pico-amp range), and any small sources of interference, such as radio waves, can distort or obscure these signals. A Faraday cage is a wire mesh enclosure around your microscope and recording chamber; it is useful in preventing the electrodes from picking up extraneous noise sources. Additionally, small sources of vibration on the order of pico-meter magnitude can disrupt your recording. Hence, all components must be perfectly positioned throughout the time-course of your experiment, and the air or anti-vibration tables are used to isolate your setup from external sources of vibration that may disrupt this alignment.
On-demand Webinar
Save your time on data analysis with new Batch Analysis feature in Axon pCLAMP 11 Software
Speaker: Jeffrey Tang, Ph.D.
Senior Global Axon Electrophysiology Application Scientist
Register for our on-demand webinar and learn how to use the Clampfit software module to manipulate and analyze electrophysiological data acquired by Axon pCLAMP™ 11 Software. The software’s advanced Batch Analysis macros eliminate the need to define parameters for every set, streamlining data analysis. Dr. Jeffrey Tang will provide an overview of the new Batch Analysis features, demonstrate the use of macros, analyze batch data, and plot graphs.
Electrophysiology Overview
Data Acquisition and Analysis
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The Axon Guide
A guide to Electrophysiology and Biophysics Laboratory Techniques. The purpose of this guide is to serve as an information and data resource for electrophysiologists. It covers a broad scope of topics ranging from the biological basis of bioelectricity and a description of the basic experimental setup to a discussion of mechanisms of noise and data analysis.
The Axon Guide
A guide to Electrophysiology and Biophysics Laboratory Techniques. The purpose of this guide is to serve as an information and data resource for electrophysiologists. It covers a broad scope of topics ranging from the biological basis of bioelectricity and a description of the basic experimental setup to a discussion of mechanisms of noise and data analysis.
Automated Event Detection
Clampfit Advanced Analysis Module, part of the pCLAMP 11 Software suite, has a flexible event detection engine that analyzes spontaneous and evoked action potentials and post-synaptic data. Events are detected by threshold crossing or a pattern-matching Template Search. Template Searches analyze spontaneous events like miniature synaptic EPSPs and IPSPs. Additionally, multiple event categories of events can be simultaneously detected. The integrated environment of Clampfit 11 Software links detected events in data to the spreadsheet and graph windows enabling quick contextual evaluation of the entire dataset.
Automated Event Detection
Clampfit Advanced Analysis Module, part of the pCLAMP 11 Software suite, has a flexible event detection engine that analyzes spontaneous and evoked action potentials and post-synaptic data. Events are detected by threshold crossing or a pattern-matching Template Search. Template Searches analyze spontaneous events like miniature synaptic EPSPs and IPSPs. Additionally, multiple event categories of events can be simultaneously detected. The integrated environment of Clampfit 11 Software links detected events in data to the spreadsheet and graph windows enabling quick contextual evaluation of the entire dataset.
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Batch Data Analysis
Clampfit Advanced Analysis Module, part of the pCLAMP 11 Software suite contains a Batch Data Analysis Tool that utilizes macros to accelerate data analysis. Batch analysis saves time by analyzing abundant amounts of data created by the same protocol. To use batch analysis, simply turn on the macro capture feature, analyze the data, and save the macro. When additional data needs analyzing, simply apply the saved macro and the data is analyzed automatically.
Tech Tips with Jeffrey Tang: Axon pClamp™ 11 Software Feature for Batch Analysis
Batch Data Analysis
Clampfit Advanced Analysis Module, part of the pCLAMP 11 Software suite contains a Batch Data Analysis Tool that utilizes macros to accelerate data analysis. Batch analysis saves time by analyzing abundant amounts of data created by the same protocol. To use batch analysis, simply turn on the macro capture feature, analyze the data, and save the macro. When additional data needs analyzing, simply apply the saved macro and the data is analyzed automatically.
Tech Tips with Jeffrey Tang: Axon pClamp™ 11 Software Feature for Batch Analysis
Customer story: University of Texas
University of Texas uses the Axon Patch-Clamp Systems to evaluate signaling mechanisms in the brain underlying memory and recall
"The beauty of using protocols in Clampex (a module in pCLAMP Software) is that you can program your system to control both stimulation and recording, making the whole system powerful and unique. More importantly is the versatility as you can input many different stimulating strategies, all under the control of Clampex.”
Customer story: University of Texas
University of Texas uses the Axon Patch-Clamp Systems to evaluate signaling mechanisms in the brain underlying memory and recall
"The beauty of using protocols in Clampex (a module in pCLAMP Software) is that you can program your system to control both stimulation and recording, making the whole system powerful and unique. More importantly is the versatility as you can input many different stimulating strategies, all under the control of Clampex.”
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Population Spike Search
Population spike recordings and paired-pulse experiments, while simple to collect, have traditionally been difficult to analyze. That is no longer the case with the Clampfit Advanced Analysis Module in pCLAMP 11 Software. The Population Spike Search tool will automatically locate population spikes based on user defined parameters and calculate the amplitude, area under the curve, half-width, rise time, decay time, rise slope, decay slope, and coastline of population spikes and paired-pulses.
Population Spike Search
Population spike recordings and paired-pulse experiments, while simple to collect, have traditionally been difficult to analyze. That is no longer the case with the Clampfit Advanced Analysis Module in pCLAMP 11 Software. The Population Spike Search tool will automatically locate population spikes based on user defined parameters and calculate the amplitude, area under the curve, half-width, rise time, decay time, rise slope, decay slope, and coastline of population spikes and paired-pulses.
HumSilencer Technology
50/60 Hz line-frequency noise, also known as electrical hum, is the most common source of background noise in patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments. This noise can overwhelm biological signals of interest, making sensitive patch-clamp measurements nearly impossible. Traditional trouble shooting is typically only partially effective and can impair data accuracy. HumSilencer is a filter-free, adaptive technology that learns and removes line frequency noise without using methods that impair signal accuracy like filters, that can distort biological signals.
HumSilencer Technology
50/60 Hz line-frequency noise, also known as electrical hum, is the most common source of background noise in patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments. This noise can overwhelm biological signals of interest, making sensitive patch-clamp measurements nearly impossible. Traditional trouble shooting is typically only partially effective and can impair data accuracy. HumSilencer is a filter-free, adaptive technology that learns and removes line frequency noise without using methods that impair signal accuracy like filters, that can distort biological signals.
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Action Potential Analysis
Action potentials represent important cellular events. Without action potentials, hearts would not beat, and neurons would not fire, so measuring these events is essential. The Action Potential Search tool in Clampfit 11 Advanced module detects all action potentials in the data file. It applies user defined and programmatically determined metrics including amplitude, AP duration, rise and decay time, rise and decay slope, peak to peak frequency and time, amplitude delta per peak, afterpotential amplitude and duration, and threshold potential.
Tech Tips with Jin Yan: Axon pClamp™ 11 Software Feature for Action Potential Analysis
Action Potential Analysis
Action potentials represent important cellular events. Without action potentials, hearts would not beat, and neurons would not fire, so measuring these events is essential. The Action Potential Search tool in Clampfit 11 Advanced module detects all action potentials in the data file. It applies user defined and programmatically determined metrics including amplitude, AP duration, rise and decay time, rise and decay slope, peak to peak frequency and time, amplitude delta per peak, afterpotential amplitude and duration, and threshold potential.
Tech Tips with Jin Yan: Axon pClamp™ 11 Software Feature for Action Potential Analysis
Synchronizing Electrophysiology And Imaging Studies
Live cell research is increasingly in need of employing complementary data acquisition simultaneously to describe intracellular processes. Simultaneous recordings with both imaging and electrophysiology techniques provide valuable correlation between both types of data, and have been widely used to examine a variety of cellular responses.
Synchronizing Electrophysiology And Imaging Studies
Live cell research is increasingly in need of employing complementary data acquisition simultaneously to describe intracellular processes. Simultaneous recordings with both imaging and electrophysiology techniques provide valuable correlation between both types of data, and have been widely used to examine a variety of cellular responses.
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Customer Story: Allegheny College
Allegheny College uses our Axon patch-clamp instruments to investigate how amyloid beta peptide block ion channels in Alzheimer's disease
Dr. Lauren French is working with undergraduate students at Allegheny College to find out how the amyloid beta peptide implicated in Alzheimer’s disease pathology inhibits a calcium-activated potassium channels. This channel interaction was reported by Yamamoto et al. (2011), and the students in her lab are investigating it using the Xenopus oocyte expression system.
Customer Story: Allegheny College
Allegheny College uses our Axon patch-clamp instruments to investigate how amyloid beta peptide block ion channels in Alzheimer's disease
Dr. Lauren French is working with undergraduate students at Allegheny College to find out how the amyloid beta peptide implicated in Alzheimer’s disease pathology inhibits a calcium-activated potassium channels. This channel interaction was reported by Yamamoto et al. (2011), and the students in her lab are investigating it using the Xenopus oocyte expression system.
Axon Patch-Clamp Video Gallery
Visit our Axon Patch-Clamp Video Gallery for the latest featured videos, webinars and tutorials on our Axon instruments including Axon Patch-Clamp Amplifiers, Digidata 1550B Digitizer plus HumSilencer, and pCLAMP Software Suite.
Axon Patch-Clamp Video Gallery
Visit our Axon Patch-Clamp Video Gallery for the latest featured videos, webinars and tutorials on our Axon instruments including Axon Patch-Clamp Amplifiers, Digidata 1550B Digitizer plus HumSilencer, and pCLAMP Software Suite.
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Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology
The Patch-clamping is a versatile electrophysiological tool for understanding ion channel behavior. Every cell expresses ion channels, but the most common cells to study with patch-clamp techniques include neurons, muscle fibers, cardiomyocytes, and oocytes overexpressing single ion channels. Learn about patch-clamp electrophysiology and ion channel basics here.
Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology
The Patch-clamping is a versatile electrophysiological tool for understanding ion channel behavior. Every cell expresses ion channels, but the most common cells to study with patch-clamp techniques include neurons, muscle fibers, cardiomyocytes, and oocytes overexpressing single ion channels. Learn about patch-clamp electrophysiology and ion channel basics here.
Latest Resources
Resources of Electrophysiology
Brochure
Axon™ Patch-Clamp
Axon™ Patch-Clamp
The Axon Instruments® portfolio provides comprehensive solutions for patch-clamping that includes amplifiers, digitizer, software, and accessories.
Data Sheet
Axon Digidata 1550B Plus HumSilencer
Axon Digidata 1550B Plus HumSilencer
Get details about Axon Digidata 1550B Low-Noise Data Acquisition System plus HumSilencer.
User Guide
The Axon™ Guide
The Axon™ Guide
The Axon Guide, a guide to electrophysiology and Biophysics laboratory techniques
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Data Sheet
Axon Axoclamp 900A Microelectrode Amplifier
Axon Axoclamp 900A Microelectrode Amplifier
Explore this Axon Axoclamp 900A Microelectrode Amplifier datasheet. this instrument offers several modes of operation that measure signals from single cells, tissue slices and whole ani…
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Data Sheet
Axon Axopatch 200B Microelectrode Amplifier
Axon Axopatch 200B Microelectrode Amplifier
Download datasheet to learn about Axon Axopatch 200B Microelectrode Amplifier which includes cooling of the active elements to achieve the lowest possible electrical noise.
Videos & Webinars
Tech Tips with Jeffrey Tang: Axon pCLAMP™ 11 Software Feature for Batch Analysis
Tech Tips with Jin Yan: Axon pClamp™ 11 Software Feature for Action Potential Analysis
Population Spike Analysis in pCLAMP 11
Batch Data Analysis Macros
Related Products & Services of Electrophysiology
pCLAMP 11 Software Suite
Sophisticated patch-clamp electrophysiology data acquisition and analysis software