I think the answer depends on your preparation (but probably the right answer is the Axopatch 200B).

For intracellular recordings from neurons in mammalian brain slices or cultures, the Axopatch 200B is clearly better, whether in voltage clamp or current clamp. No question.

For extracellular field potentials, the AxoClamp 2B might have a small edge, but maybe not. It's been a LONG time since I last used one (maybe 20 years), but IIRC, the AxoClamp 2B only amplifies its output by 10x. That's not a lot for a field potential; you'd probably need a secondary amplification step.

So, without knowing more, I'd say the Axopatch 200B is a better place to start.

Hi Niraj,

Thanks a lot for the help.

Well, we want to perform extracellular recordings (more precisely long term potentiation). We have the AxoClamp 2B and it is plugged into a CyberAmp 320

I know the equipment is a little old, but as they are functional, we want to place them for recording.

Once again, thank you very much for your cooperation.

The AxoClamp 2B is perfect for field recording, given you have a post-amplifier. On slices, you do not have to amplify that much if you use glass low impedance electrodes (10 times on the 10 Vm output is perfect : band path (200 Hz-3 KHz or even only the low pass 3 Khz). The axoClamp is even good for voltage clamp recording with low impedance electrode (patch) either in discontinuous VC (or CC) for "not too fast current" or in continuous mode for "slow current" (IH). It is old, but in my experience I kept one up to 30 years (4 days a week working on it) without problems. Just check the calibration output and the leak from time to time. The BRIDGE control saturates when the IR voltage drop exceeds ±600 mV referred to the input, so no issue.

Best

Fabien

Depends on your budget. If that's not a problem, get yourself an Axopatch 700B. You can do more than just field potentials. You can, when needed, do whole-cell experiments (say, when buffering internal Calcium with EGTA or Bapta, blocking a channel from the cytosolic side...etc.,) and unitary activity channel recordings (all configurations: C-A, I-O or O-O). Furthermore, you can perform , ion-selective electrode recording, amperometry/voltammetry and bilayer recordings.