Recording SOCE Activity in Neurons by Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology and Microfluorometric Calcium Imaging

Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is a Ca2+ influx pathway at the plasma membrane that replenishes intracellular Ca2+ stores in response to depletion of Ca2+ stores. The SOC current, also known as the Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ current (ICRAC), has a small conductance, which makes selective recording difficult. This challenge may be addressed using techniques based on identification of Ca2+ influx patch-clamp electrophysiological recording and measurement of cytoplasmic Ca2+ accumulation with Ca2+-sensitive fluorophores. Here, we describe specific methods for studying SOCE using these approaches in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.