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Patch Clamp

Patch Clamp

Many fundamental cell functions such as muscle contraction and nerve transmission rely on the electrical signals produced by the movement of positively and negatively charged ions across the cell membrane. One competent method to record current flowing across the whole cell or single ion channel is the patch-clamp technique.
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...

Fertilization

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Patch-Clamp Techniques for Single Endolysosomal Vesicle Analysis

Patch-Clamp Techniques for Single Endolysosomal Vesicle Analysis

Published on: April 4, 2025

Sperm patch-clamp.

Polina Lishko¹, David E Clapham, Betsy Navarro

¹Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA. lishko@berkeley.edu

Methods in Enzymology

|March 26, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a new patch-clamp method to study sperm ion channels, crucial for fertilization. This technique allows direct recording of ion channel activity, advancing our understanding of sperm function and fertility.

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Sperm Collection of Differential Quality Using Density Gradient Centrifugation

Sperm Collection of Differential Quality Using Density Gradient Centrifugation

Published on: November 29, 2018

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Patch-Clamp Techniques for Single Endolysosomal Vesicle Analysis

Patch-Clamp Techniques for Single Endolysosomal Vesicle Analysis

Published on: April 4, 2025

Sperm Collection of Differential Quality Using Density Gradient Centrifugation

Sperm Collection of Differential Quality Using Density Gradient Centrifugation

Published on: November 29, 2018

Area of Science:

Sperm physiology and fertilization biology
Cellular electrophysiology
Membrane biophysics

Background:

Sperm intracellular pH and calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) are critical for sperm function and fertilization.
Sperm ion channels regulate motility, chemotaxis, and the acrosome reaction.
Previous technical limitations hindered direct study of sperm ion channels.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a reproducible patch-clamp technique for spermatozoa.
To detail essential methods for recording sperm ion channel activity.
To overcome previous barriers in sperm electrophysiology.

Main Methods:

Adaptation of the patch-clamp technique for spermatozoa.
Selection of appropriate electrophysiological equipment.
Sperm isolation and gigaohm seal formation.
Whole-cell recording mode application.
Discussion of potential pitfalls for flagellar ion channels.

Main Results:

Successful development of a reproducible patch-clamp method for mouse and human spermatozoa.
Establishment of techniques for recording ion channel activity in sperm.
Overcoming the technical barrier to studying sperm ion channels.

Conclusions:

The developed patch-clamp technique enables direct investigation of sperm ion channels.
This advancement is vital for understanding sperm physiology and fertilization.
Further research into flagellar ion channels is facilitated by this method.