Interfacing a real-time dynamic clamp system with neuron simulation software in living cells

Abstract

The leading in silico software for building/testing neuronal computational models is NEURON (neuron.yale.edu). We combined NEURON models with a real-time, dynamic clamp system (Cybercyte DC1) which enables us to interface NEURON models with cells during patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments. Simulated action potentials (AP) generated by NEURON were used to voltage clamp HEK cells expressing the cloned HERG ion channel currents. The resulting cloned ion channel current measured during the AP was fed back in real time to the simulated NEURON model AP.