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Craig S. Nunemaker¹, R. Anthony DeFazio¹ and Suzanne M. Moenter^1*

¹ Departments of Internal Medicine and Cell Biology, and the NSF Center for Biological Timing, University of Virginia. P.O. Box 800578, Jefferson Park Avenue, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908. USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed: Suzanne M. Moenter, Departments of Internal Medicine and Cell Biology, and the NSF Center for Biological Timing, University of Virginia. P.O. Box 800578, Jefferson Park Avenue, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908. USA. Phone: (434) 982-0076. Fax: (434) 982-0088. Email: smm4n@virginia.edu

Biol. Proced. Online 2003;5:53-62. doi:10.1251/bpo46
Submitted: December 17, 2002; Accepted: February 05, 2003; Published: February 17, 2003.

Indexing terms: gonadorelin; periodicity; neurons.

Excitable cells in many endocrine and neuronal systems display rhythms with periodicities on the order of many minutes. To observe firing patterns that represent the output of these rhythms requires a recording technique that can monitor electrophysiological activity for several hours without affecting cell behavior. A targeted extracellular approach (also known as loose-patch) accomplishes this objective. Because low resistance seals (<20 MΩ) do not influence the cell membrane and because the normal intracellular milieu is maintained, this approach is the least invasive method for monitoring the endogenous electrical activity of single cells. In this report, we detail our use of this technique to record the firing patterns of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in brain slices continuously for several hours.