Single channel recordings from basolateral and apical membranes of renal proximal tubules

A new method is described, which enables the recording of single ionic channels from the basolateral as well as the luminal membrane of renal proximal tubules with the patch-clamp technique. Segments of late proximal tubules of rabbit kidney are cannulated and perfused from one end. The other end is open and freely accessible to a patch pipette. The patch electrode can be moved against lateral cell membranes or can be inserted through the open end into the lumen and brought to contact with the brush-border membrane. Both, in the basolateral as well as in the luminal membrane, giga seals can be achieved. In both membranes, K+ selective channels could be identified.