Editing Patch clamp (section)

=== Whole-cell recording or whole-cell patch ===
[[File:Whole Cell Patch Clamp Steps.png|thumb|right|upright=1.3|Whole-cell patch configuration]]
Whole-cell recordings involve recording currents through multiple channels simultaneously, over a large region of the cell membrane. The electrode is left in place on the cell, as in cell-attached recordings, but more suction is applied to rupture the membrane patch, thus providing access from the interior of the pipette to the [[intracellular space]] of the cell. This provides a means to administer and study how treatments (e.g. drugs) can affect cells in real time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Segev|first1=Amir|last2=Garcia-Oscos|first2=Francisco|last3=Kourrich|first3=Saïd|date=2016-06-15|title=Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings in Brain Slices|url=https://www.jove.com/video/54024/whole-cell-patch-clamp-recordings-in-brain-slices|journal=Journal of Visualized Experiments|issue=112|pages=e54024|doi=10.3791/54024|pmid=27341060|pmc=4927800|issn=1940-087X}}</ref> Once the pipette is attached to the cell membrane, there are two methods of breaking the patch. The first is by applying more suction. The amount and duration of this suction depends on the type of cell and size of the pipette. The other method requires a large current pulse to be sent through the pipette. How much current is applied and the duration of the pulse also depend on the type of cell.<ref name=Molleman /> For some types of cells, it is convenient to apply both methods simultaneously to break the patch.

The advantage of whole-cell patch clamp recording over [[Electrophysiology#Sharp electrode recording|sharp electrode technique]] recording is that the larger opening at the tip of the patch clamp electrode provides lower resistance and thus better electrical access to the inside of the cell.<ref name=Staley>{{cite journal|last1=Staley|first1=K.J.|last2=Otis|first2=T. S.|last3=Mody|first3=I|title=Membrane properties of dentate gyrus granule cells: comparison of sharp microelectrode and whole-cell recordings|journal=Journal of Neurophysiology|date=May 1, 1992|volume=67|issue=5|pages=1346–1358|pmid=1597717|doi=10.1152/jn.1992.67.5.1346}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> A disadvantage of this technique is that because the volume of the electrode is larger than the volume of the cell, the soluble contents of the cell's interior will slowly be replaced by the contents of the electrode. This is referred to as the electrode [[dialysis (biochemistry)|"dialyzing"]] the cell's contents.<ref name=Molleman /> After a while, any properties of the cell that depend on soluble intracellular contents will be altered. The pipette solution used usually approximates the high-[[potassium]] environment of the interior of the cell to minimize any changes this may cause. There is often a period at the beginning of a whole-cell recording when one can take measurements before the cell has been dialyzed.<ref name=Molleman />