Patch-Clamp Recording from Dissociated Hydra Cells

九头蛇是拥有神经系统的最原始的后生动物。这种多细胞动物一直是发育研究的首选模型，但电生理研究几乎不存在。由于一些技术原因，传统的电生理技术在水生动物中的应用已经被证明是相当困难的，而且总体上是不成功的。本研究将利用贴片夹持技术研究解离的水螅神经元的特性。这种微电极技术允许从太小的细胞中记录离子通道，这是传统电生理方法无法做到的。将研究一种假定的神经递质对水螅神经和上皮细胞膜的全细胞离子电流和单通道活性的影响。本研究结果将为水螅细胞的膜功能和化学物质传递的生理学提供更多的信息。

Hydra is the most primitive metazoan possessing a nervous system. This multicellular animal has been a favorite model for developmental studies, yet electrophysiological studies are practically non-existent. For a number of technical reasons the application of traditional electrophysiological techniques using hydrozoans have proven to be quite difficult and overall not successful. This study will examine the properties of dissociated Hydra neurons by utilizing the technique of patch clamping. This microelectrode technique permits the recording of ion channels from cells too small that would not be possible with traditional electrophysiological methods. The effects of a putative neurotransmitter on whole cell ionic currents and single channels activity of hydra nerve and epithelial cell membranes will be studied. Results from this study will provide additional information on membrane function and physiology of chemical transmission in hydra cells.