Noise analysis of ion channels in non-space-clamped cables: estimates of channel parameters in olfactory cilia
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Analyzing Responses of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons Using the Air-phase Electroolfactogram Recording
Published on: March 2, 2010
H P Larsson1, S J Kleene, H Lecar
1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley 94720, USA.
Abstract:
Ion channels in the cilia of olfactory neurons are part of the transduction machinery of olfaction. Odorant stimuli have been shown to induce a biphasic current response, consisting of a cAMP-activated current and a Ca(2+)-activated Cl- current. We have developed a noise analysis method to study ion channels in leaky cables, such as the olfactory cilium, under non-space-clamp conditions. We performed steady-state noise analysis on ligand-induced currents in excised cilia, voltage-clamped at input and internally perfused with cAMP or Ca2+. The cAMP-activated channels analyzed by this method gave results similar to those of single-channel recordings (gamma = 8.3 pS). Single-channel currents have not yet been recorded for the Ca(2+)-activated Cl- channels. Using our noise analysis method, we estimate a unit conductance, gamma = 0.8 pS, for these channels. The density of channels was found to be approximately 70 channels/micron2 for both channel species.
More Related Videos
10:14Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components
Published on: February 8, 2011
10:16Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor
Published on: July 13, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Hair Cells
Patch Clamp
In this method, a glass micropipette containing electrolyte solution is tightly sealed against a small portion of the cell membrane. As a result, a patch of the cell...
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...