Whole-cell voltage-clamp study of sodium current in neuroblastoma cells: effects of inhibition of neurite outgrowth by colchicine

A method is described for the production of large numbers of neurite-free neuroblastoma cells that are especially suitable for studies involving whole-cell voltage clamp. Differentiation in the presence of colchicine yielded cells having abundant sodium channels, highly reproducible peak currents and no space-clamp problems. Treatment with this drug did not alter the electrophysiological properties of the cells. Colchicine might be similarly advantageous in voltage-clamp studies of different ion channels and other types of cultured neurons.