Recording of voltage gated channels with whole cell patch clamp configuration offers the best time course resolution. Example of blockade of sodium channels (Nav) expressed by SH-5YSY cells by tetrodotoxin (TTX). Plot of the current as a function of the voltage yields the I-V curve.

A liquid filament driven by a piezo quartz, combined with computer control valves, allows the fastest and reliable drug application currently available. Expression of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in GH4C1 and determination of the dose-response to acetylcholine illustrates the quality of compound application. Ideally set up for agonist or antagonist dose-response curves the manual patch allows the finest characterization of ligand-gated or voltage gated channels.

Selecting the desired target and most suitable cells (i.e. neurons, or neuron-like cells) for CNS targeted compounds is an important step in the design of the experiments. Our long-standing practice of different models, and experience in transfections offers the best guaranties of success. Design of the genes encoding for the protein of interest and production of synthetic cDNAs offer infinite possibilities for testing the effects of compounds at human or selected animal species opening the best of preclinical testing. Combination of patch clamp recordings and expression in Xenopus oocytes allows a fast turn around in conception and probing target assays.