Development of the single microelectrode current and voltage clamp for central nervous system neurons.

The development of a single microelectrode clamping circuit for central nervous system preparations is presented. The efficacy of the circuit in both current and voltage clamp modes is demonstrated by investigating the membrane properties of cat spinal motoneurons. Results are compared with those obtained using conventional techniques and reveal that this technique can be more readily applied to central nervous system neurons. The constraints invovled in employing this system to study time-varying events are also discussed.