Patch-Clamping - Need help in basics

[Jennileinchen]

Patch-Clamping - Need help in basics

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Post by Jennileinchen » Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:22 pm

Hello everybody!
I'm normally working in the field of plant-microbe interaction, but at the moment I have to deal with some results of patch-clamp recordings. Unfortunately I've never been taught how to interpret those data, and it looks like my brain refuses to get it. So, my (probably VERY basic) question is now:

I have a cell in whole cell patch-clamp and do a voltage ramp. How do I have to interpret the measurement? I have, as a result, a set of curves given in pA. Does a negative number indicate that cations flow into the cell or anions flow out of the cell, respectively, and vice versa? Or is this a too easy way of thinking about it?

Phew, hope somebody can help me out.

Thanks,
Jenny