Single-channel and whole-cell recordings from non-dissociated sympathetic neurones in rabbit coeliac ganglia.

A procedure is described for performing patch-clamp recordings on mammalian sympathetic neurones within intact ganglia. The plasma membrane of superficial neurones was cleaned by blowing (1.5-3 h) a gentle stream of Ringer saline onto ganglia, the connective sheath of which was previously softened by a short protease treatment. This procedure preserved the intraganglionic connectivity so that the neurones could be activated either synaptically or antidromically by stimulating the appropriate nerves. Depending on the duration of the mechanical cleaning step, recordings were performed on either the neurones or the satellite glial cells covering the neuronal cell bodies. The applicability of the various configurations of the patch-clamp technique to studying sympathetic neurones is illustrated by recordings of whole-cell voltage, whole-cell currents and single-channel currents in cell-attached and excised patches. With these techniques, the resolution of the membrane current recordings is higher than with conventional microelectrodes. The results obtained show that mammalian sympathetic neurones have a very high input resistance (0.5 G omega), are electronically compact and may display pacemaker activity. These techniques provide a useful tool for studying the synaptic transmission and neuromodulation mechanisms operating within the sympathetic ganglia.