Name: single-channel analysis and calcium imaging in the podocytes of the freshly isolated glomeruli
Uploaded: 2015-06-27T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Glen Slocum (Medical College of Wisconsin) and Colleen A. Lavin (Nikon Instruments, Inc.) for excellent technical assistance with microscopy experiments. Gregory Blass is acknowledged for critical proofreading of the manuscript. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant HL108880 and American Diabetes Association grant 1-15-BS-172 (to AS), and the Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship from the American Society of Nephrology (to DVI).

Animal use and welfare should adhere to the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals following protocols reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
1. Kidney Flush
<ol>
	<li>Use 8 to 12 week old male rat (suggested is a Sprague Dawley strain, however other strains of different age and gender can be used with appropriate changes).</li>
	<li>Anesthetize the animal according to the procedure allowed by IACUC protocol; monitor depth of anesthesi...

<ol>
	<li>Machuca, E., Benoit, G., Antignac, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetics+of+nephrotic+syndrome:+connecting+molecular+genetics+to+podocyte+physiology.">Genetics of nephrotic syndrome: connecting molecular genetics to podocyte physiology.</a> Hum. Mol. Genet. 18, R185-R194 (2009).</li><li>Haraldsson, B., Nystrom, J., Deen, W. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Properties+of+the+glomerular+barrier+and+mechanisms+of+proteinuria.">Properties of the glomerular barrier and mechanisms of proteinuria.</a> Physiol. Rev. 88, 451-487 (2008).</li><li>Patrakka, J., Tryggvason, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+insights+into+the+role+of+podocytes+in+proteinuria.">New insights into the role of podocytes in proteinuria.</a> Nat. Rev. Nephrol. 5, 463-468 (2009).</li><li>Savin, V. J., Sharma, R., Lovell, H. B., Welling, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measurement+of+albumin+reflection+coefficient+with+isolated+rat+glomeruli.">Measurement of albumin reflection coefficient with isolated rat glomeruli.</a> J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 3, 1260-1269 (1992).</li><li>Gloy, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Angiotensin+II+depolarizes+podocytes+in+the+intact+glomerulus+of+the+Rat.">Angiotensin II depolarizes podocytes in the intact glomerulus of the Rat.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 99, 2772-2781 (1997).</li><li>Nitschke, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Angiotensin+II+increases+the+intracellular+calcium+activity+in+podocytes+of+the+intact+glomerulus.">Angiotensin II increases the intracellular calcium activity in podocytes of the intact glomerulus.</a> Kidney Int. 57, 41-49 (2000).</li><li>Ilatovskaya, D., Staruschenko, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-channel+analysis+of+TRPC+channels+in+the+podocytes+of+freshly+isolated+glomeruli.">Single-channel analysis of TRPC channels in the podocytes of freshly isolated glomeruli.</a> Methods Mol Biol. 998, 355-369 (2013).</li><li>Snitsarev, V. A., McNulty, T. J., Taylor, C. 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J. 71, 1048-1056 (1996).</li><li>Fukuda, A., Fujimoto, S., Iwatsubo, S., Kawachi, H., Kitamura, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+mineralocorticoid+and+angiotensin+II+receptor+blockers+on+proteinuria+and+glomerular+podocyte+protein+expression+in+a+model+of+minimal+change+nephrotic+syndrome.">Effects of mineralocorticoid and angiotensin II receptor blockers on proteinuria and glomerular podocyte protein expression in a model of minimal change nephrotic syndrome.</a> Nephrology (Carlton). 15, 321-326 (2010).</li><li>Abramowitz, J., Birnbaumer, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Physiology+and+pathophysiology+of+canonical+transient+receptor+potential+channels).">Physiology and pathophysiology of canonical transient receptor potential channels).</a> FASEB J. 23, 297-328 (2009).</li><li>Heeringa, S. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+TRPC6+mutation+that+causes+childhood+FSGS.">A novel TRPC6 mutation that causes childhood FSGS.</a> PLoS ONE. 4, e7771 (2009).</li><li>Zhang, X., Song, Z., Guo, Y., Zhou, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+novel+role+of+TRPC6+in+vitamin+D+ameliorating+podocyte+injury+in+STZ-induced+diabetic+rats.">The novel role of TRPC6 in vitamin D ameliorating podocyte injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats.</a> Mol. Cell. Biochem. 399, 155-165 (2015).</li><li>Bohrer, M. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanisms+of+the+puromycin-induced+defects+in+the+transglomerular+passage+of+water+and+macromolecules.">Mechanisms of the puromycin-induced defects in the transglomerular passage of water and macromolecules.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 60, 152-161 (1977).</li><li>Olson, J. L., Rennke, H. G., Venkatachalam, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alterations+in+the+charge+and+size+selectivity+barrier+of+the+glomerular+filter+in+aminonucleoside+nephrosis+in+rats.">Alterations in the charge and size selectivity barrier of the glomerular filter in aminonucleoside nephrosis in rats.</a> Lab. Invest. 44, 271-279 (1981).</li><li>Schiessl, I. M., Castrop, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Angiotensin+II+AT2+receptor+activation+attenuates+AT1+receptor-induced+increases+in+the+glomerular+filtration+of+albumin:+a+multiphoton+microscopy+study.">Angiotensin II AT2 receptor activation attenuates AT1 receptor-induced increases in the glomerular filtration of albumin: a multiphoton microscopy study.</a> Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 305, F1189-F1200 (2013).</li><li>Ilatovskaya, D. V., Levchenko, V., Ryan, R. P., Cowley, A. W., Staruschenko, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=NSAIDs+acutely+inhibit+TRPC+channels+in+freshly+isolated+rat+glomeruli.">NSAIDs acutely inhibit TRPC channels in freshly isolated rat glomeruli.</a> Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 408, 242-247 (2011).</li><li>Peti-Peterdi, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium+wave+of+tubuloglomerular+feedback.">Calcium wave of tubuloglomerular feedback.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 291, F473-F480 (2006).</li><li>Peti-Peterdi, J., Warnock, D. G., Bell, P. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Angiotensin+II+directly+stimulates+ENaC+activity+in+the+cortical+collecting+duct+via+AT(1)+receptors.">Angiotensin II directly stimulates ENaC activity in the cortical collecting duct via AT(1) receptors.</a> J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 13, 1131-1135 (2002).</li><li>Ilatovskaya, D. V., Palygin, O., Levchenko, V., Staruschenko, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pharmacological+characterization+of+the+P2+receptors+profile+in+the+podocytes+of+the+freshly+isolated+rat+glomeruli.">Pharmacological characterization of the P2 receptors profile in the podocytes of the freshly isolated rat glomeruli.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 305, C1050-C1059 (2013).</li><li>Ilatovskaya, D. V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Angiotensin+II+has+acute+effects+on+TRPC6+channels+in+podocytes+of+freshly+isolated+glomeruli.">Angiotensin II has acute effects on TRPC6 channels in podocytes of freshly isolated glomeruli.</a> Kidney Int. 305, C1050-C1059 (2014).</li><li>Schaldecker, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inhibition+of+the+TRPC5+ion+channel+protects+the+kidney+filter.">Inhibition of the TRPC5 ion channel protects the kidney filter.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 123, 5298-5309 (2013).</li><li>Roshanravan, H., Dryer, S. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ATP+acting+through+P2Y+receptors+causes+activation+of+podocyte+TRPC6+channels:+role+of+podocin+and+reactive+oxygen+species.">ATP acting through P2Y receptors causes activation of podocyte TRPC6 channels: role of podocin and reactive oxygen species.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 306, F1088-F1097 (2014).</li><li>Anderson, M., Roshanravan, H., Khine, J., Dryer, S. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Angiotensin+II+activation+of+TRPC6+channels+in+rat+podocytes+requires+generation+of+reactive+oxygen+species.">Angiotensin II activation of TRPC6 channels in rat podocytes requires generation of reactive oxygen species.</a> J. Cell. Physiol. 229, 434-442 (2014).</li></ol>

The approach described here allows for the analysis of calcium handling by the podocytes of the rodent glomeruli. This technique allows application of patch-clamp single channel electrophysiology and fluorescence ratiometric confocal imaging. However, both approaches can be used separately, on their own. The proposed protocol has several relatively simple steps, including 1) kidney flush; 2) isolation of the glomeruli by differential sieving; 3) performing patch-clamp electrophysiological experiments, or incubation of th...

Kidneys maintain homeostatic balance for various substances and regulate blood volume in a way that determines total blood pressure. Disturbances in the renal filtration, reabsorption or secretion lead to or accompany pathological states, ranging from hyper- or hypotension to end stage renal disease that eventually requires kidney transplantation. The renal filtering unit (glomerulus) consists of three layers &#8211; the capillary endothelium, basement membrane and a single-cell layer of epithelial cells &#8211; podocytes, which play a major role in the maintenance of the slit-diaphragm integrity and function1. Dysfunction in the permselective glomerular filter causes urinary loss of macromolecules, such as proteinuria. Various agents may affect the structure of the podocytes and their foot processes, which determine the integrity of the glomeruli filtration barrier.
The podocytes are involved in the maintenance of the glomeruli filtration function. It has been established that improper calcium handling by the podocyte leads to cell injury and plays an important role in the progression of various forms of nephropathies2,3. Therefore, development of a model which allows for direct measuring of intracellular calcium concentration changes will be instrumental for studies of podocyte function. Isolated glomeruli were previously used in a numerous studies including measurement of albumin reflection coefficient changes4 and assessment of integral cellular currents in the whole-cell electrophysiological patch-clamp measurements5,6. In the present paper we describe the protocol that allows the researcher to measure intracellular calcium concentration changes in response to applications of pharmacological agents, estimate basal levels of calcium within the cells, and assess individual calcium channels activity. Ratometric calcium concentration measurements and patch-clamp electrophysiology were used to determine changes in the intracellular calcium concentration within the podocyte and channel activity, respectively.

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	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluo4 AM</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>F14217</td>
			<td>500&#181;l in DMSO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FuraRed AM</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>F-3020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly-L-lysine</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P4707</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pluronic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>F-68&#160;</td>
			<td>solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ionomycin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>I3909-1ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tube rotator</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec GmbH</td>
			<td>130-090-753</td>
			<td>Germany</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nikon confocal microscope (inverted)</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>Nikon A1R</td>
			<td>&#160;Laser exitation 488nm. Emission filters 500-550nm and 570-620nm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Objective</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>Plan Apo 60x/NA 1.4 Oil</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover Glass</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>6661B52</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>High vacuum grease</td>
			<td>Dow Corning</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Silicone Compound</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Software</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>Nikon NIS-Elements&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recording/perfusion chamber</td>
			<td>Warner Instruments</td>
			<td>RC-26</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Patch Clamp amplifier</td>
			<td>Molecular Devices</td>
			<td>MultiClamp 700B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Data Acquisition System</td>
			<td>Molecular Devices</td>
			<td>Digidata 1440A</td>
			<td>Axon Digidata&#174; System</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Low Pass Filter</td>
			<td>Warner Instruments</td>
			<td>LPF-8</td>
			<td>8 pole Bessel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Borosilicate glass capillaries</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>1B150F-4</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micropipette Puller</td>
			<td>Sutter Instrument Co</td>
			<td>P-97</td>
			<td>Flaming/Brown type micropipette puller</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microforge</td>
			<td>Narishige</td>
			<td>MF-830</td>
			<td>Japan</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Motorized Micromanipulator</td>
			<td>Sutter Instrument Co</td>
			<td>MP-225</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Inverted microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>Eclipse Ti</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microvibration isolation table</td>
			<td>TMC</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>equipped with Faraday cage</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Multichannel valve perfusion system</td>
			<td>AutoMake Scientific</td>
			<td>Valve Bank II</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recording/perfusion chamber</td>
			<td>Warner Instruments</td>
			<td>RC-26</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Software</td>
			<td>Molecular Devices</td>
			<td>pClamp 10 . 2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nicardipine</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>N7510</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iberiotoxin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>I5904-5UG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Niflumic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>N0630</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DIDS</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D3514-25MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TEA chloride</td>
			<td>Tocris</td>
			<td>T2265</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 1640</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>11835030</td>
			<td>without antibiotics</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BSA</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A8327</td>
			<td>30% albumin solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Temperature controlled surgical table&#160;</td>
			<td>MCW core</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>for rodents</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Steel sieves:</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>#100 (150 &#956;m), 140 (106 &#956;m)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gilson, Inc&#160; SIEVE 3 SS FH NO200</td>
			<td>Fisher Sci</td>
			<td>50-871-316</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gilson, Inc&#160; SIEVE 3 SS FH NO270</td>
			<td>Fisher Sci</td>
			<td>50-871-318</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gilson, Inc&#160; SIEVE 3 SS FH NO400</td>
			<td>Fisher Sci</td>
			<td>50-871-320</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;mesh 200&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>s4145</td>
			<td>screen for CD-1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Binocular microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>Eclipse TS100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Binocular microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>SMZ745</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe pump-based perfusion system</td>
			<td>Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>polyethylene tubing</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>PE50</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isofluorane anesthesia</td>
			<td><a href="http://www.vetequip.com/">http://www.vetequip.com/</a></td>
			<td>911103</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Other basic reagents</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

single-channel analysis and calcium imaging in the podocytes of the freshly isolated glomeruli

Podocytes (renal glomerular epithelial cells) are known to regulate glomerular permeability and maintain glomerular structure; a key role for these cells in the pathogenesis of various renal diseases has been established since podocyte injury leads to proteinuria and foot process effacement. It was previously reported that various endogenous agents may cause a dramatic overload in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in podocytes, presumably leading to albuminuria, and this likely occurs via calcium-conducting ion channels. Therefore, it appeared important to study calcium handling in the podocytes both under normal conditions and in various pathological states. However, available experimental approaches have remained somewhat limited to cultured and transfected cells. Although they represent a good basic model for such studies, they are essentially extracted from the native environment of the glomerulus. Here we describe the methodology of studying podocytes as a part of the freshly isolated whole glomerulus. This preparation retains the functional potential of the podocytes, which are still attached to the capillaries; therefore, podocytes remain in the environment that conserves the major parts of the glomeruli filtration apparatus. The present manuscript elaborates on two experimental approaches that allow 1) real-time detection of calcium concentration changes with the help of ratiometric confocal fluorescence microscopy, and 2) the recording of the single ion channels activity in the podocytes of the freshly isolated glomeruli. These methodologies utilize the advantages of the native environment of the glomerulus that enable researchers to resolve acute changes in the intracellular calcium handling in response to applications of various agents, measure basal concentration of calcium within the cells (for instance, to evaluate disease progression), and assess and manipulate calcium conductance at the level of single ion channels.

Here we addressed the problem of measuring acute changes in the calcium levels in the podocytes. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the experimental protocol designed in order to perform high resolution live fluorescence confocal imaging and single ion channel activity recordings in the podocytes of the freshly isolated rodent glomeruli. Briefly, after the rat is anaesthetized, the kidneys should be flushed with PBS to clear them of blood. Then, the kidneys are excised and decapsulated, and glo...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli at JoVE.com

Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli

Changes in the intracellular calcium levels in the podocytes are one of the most important means to control the filtration function of glomeruli. Here we explain a high-throughput approach that allows detection of real-time calcium handling and single ion channels activity in the podocytes of the freshly isolated glomeruli.

Podocytes (renal glomerular epithelial cells) are known to regulate glomerular permeability and maintain glomerular structure; a key role for these cells ...

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Quantifying Single Microvessel Permeability in Isolated Blood-perfused Rat Lung Preparation

The isolated blood-perfused lung preparation is widely used to visualize and define signaling in single microvessels. By coupling this preparation with ...

Measuring the Osmotic Water Permeability Coefficient (Pf) of Spherical Cells: Isolated Plant Protoplasts as an Example

Measuring the Osmotic Water Permeability Coefficient Pf of Spherical Cells: Isolated Plant Protoplasts as an Example

Studying AQP regulation mechanisms is crucial for the understanding of water relations at both the cellular and the whole plant levels. Presented here is ...

Implementing Patch Clamp and Live Fluorescence Microscopy to Monitor Functional Properties of Freshly Isolated PKD Epithelium

Cyst initiation and expansion during polycystic kidney disease is a complex process characterized by abnormalities in tubular cell proliferation, luminal ...

High-resolution Time-lapse Imaging and Automated Analysis of Microtubule Dynamics in Living Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

The physiological process by which new vasculature forms from existing vasculature requires specific signaling events that trigger morphological changes ...

The Mouse Isolated Perfused Kidney Technique

The mouse isolated perfused kidney (MIPK) is a technique for keeping a mouse kidney under ex vivo conditions perfused and functional for 1 hr. This is a ...

Analysis of Beta-cell Function Using Single-cell Resolution Calcium Imaging in Zebrafish Islets

Pancreatic beta-cells respond to increasing blood glucose concentrations by secreting the hormone insulin. The dysfunction of beta-cells leads to ...

Simultaneous Measurements of Intracellular Calcium and Membrane Potential in Freshly Isolated and Intact Mouse Cerebral Endothelium

Cerebral arteries and their respective microcirculation deliver oxygen and nutrients to the brain via blood flow regulation. Endothelial cells line the ...