Single electrode voltage clamp by iteration

Abstract

A technique for providing conditions of voltage clamp which differs considerably from other voltage clamp schemes has been developed. The feedback network which determines the current which will clamp the cell to the desired voltage does not operate in real time. Instead, the system uses a form of discontinuous feedback. The event to be clamped, which must be one which can be made to repeat itself without change, is elicited and allowed to run to completion without the intervention of feedback. During each repetition of the event, a current waveform is injected whose shape is based on the foregoing trials (iterations). Successive repetitions of this process develop a current waveform which ever more closely clamps the voltage to the desired value. Implementation involves a means of converting the intracellular voltage signal to digital form (a transient recorder), a means of processing the digitalized voltage signal (a digital computer), and a means of delivering the clamping current back to the preparation. The system has two advantages over other voltage clamp techniques. First, that the feedback loop is open in real time confers great stability. This advantage is exploited in the use of iterative voltage clamp in single electrode preparations. Secondly, iterative voltage clamp is essentially unlimited in the speed with which it can respond to transients. This would make the technique of interest even in preparations such as squid giant axon, where two electrodes are used and very fast responsiveness is desired.