[Current status of the application of patch-clamp technique and its combinations with other techniques]

The Patch-clamp technique, as an advanced electrophysiological technique, has been widely used for research in the life science research field. A recent trend is to combine this technique with other techniques, such as the Fura-2 microfluorimetry for measuring the concentration of Ca2+, electrochemical detection with carbon-fiber electrode (i.e. amperometric detection or amperometry), and single-cell reverse transcription of RNA followed by the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). This article is to summarize the current status of the use of patch-clamp technique and its combinations with other techniques in solving problems related with transmembrane signal transduction in neurobiology.