Access to the basal membrane of beetle Malpighian tubules (Onymacris rugatipennis) was achieved by a new method of stripping tubules of the surrounding connective tissue and basement membrane, in a simple squeezing process. We recorded single channel currents in the cell-attached configuration from basal K+ channels. The peeling method described in this paper allows quick and easy preparation of Malpighian tubules for patch clamp studies on the basal membrane.
Animals Cell Membrane