My diploma thesis provides important information about biophysical and pharmacological properties of ion channels achieved by means of planar patch clamp methods. Besides manual methods, which need extended training to perform recordings, the semi-automated approaches like the planar patch clamp method provide easier and faster access especially in terms of drug screening. Within this thesis a method to investigate L-type calcium channels at the Port-a-Patch® device was established and furthermore a protocol to examine drugs was specified. In order to prove the reliability of the planar patch clamp method biophysical properties of the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) CaV1.3 were tested and validated.
Corresponding to the data found in literature, the differences between activation and inactivation of CaV1.3 using calcium or barium as charge carriers were confirmed in my planar patch clamp study. Furthermore, the channels’ properties were tested while adding different concentrations of cadmium in order to block the channel. As in previous findings depicted a completely blocking of CaV1.3 by 200µM cadmium can be confirmed with investigations at the Port a Patch®. In my thesis I also integrated refinements of the recording.
Overall, I can conclude that usage of the Port a Patch® device is a fast and reproducible method for future LTCC drug screening approaches.