Hi,
our collaborators have recorded the resting membrane potential from cortical pyramidal neurons in whole-cell current-clamp mode from our wt and knockout mice. The ko mice showed lower values than the wt.
My question is what does this mean biologically? I understant that this means that the ion concentration across the membrane is greater in the ko, but what is the significane/relevance of this?
Many thanks.
Giulia
Hi José Ramón López López
many thanks for your reply. Do you think it would be worthwhile do a qPCR on a panel of ion channels to see if their expression is altered? Or would that be a waste of time as it could be alteration in functionality which I will not be picking up?
Best,
Giulia
This has little to do with ion concentrations across the plasma membrane. It is the result of altered ion channel conductances contributing to the membrane potential. If you mean less negative then the conductance of one or more channels conducting outward current is/are lower or those conducting inward currents are higher. If you mean more negative then the reverse.
- Badges
- Science topic