i use whole cell patch to measure neuronal tau and resistant.
with the equation tau=RC, Capacitance is calculated.
I wonder if neuron has coupled with other neurons via gapjunction, the measured capacitance value is effected or not? should I apply gapjunction blocker?
thank you.
Hi Geng Pan,
If neurons are coupled with each other via gap junctions (GJ) this will affect membrane capacitance measurements. To use or not use GJ blockers depends on the design and aim of your research.
Hi,
Definitively, GJ will produce changes in Cm measurements. In the two cell scenario, I think that is very difficult to calculate how much of Cm from the not recorded cell is added to the recording of the patched cell, I think it will depend of how much GJ are coupling the cytosol of both cells (larger the density of gap junctions, larger the Cm added to the recording), but that is not simple to calculate with the patch-clamp technique.
Instead to use a blocker of GJ, to avoid this artifact I recommend you only to record solitary cells.
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