Name: whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of isolated primary epithelial cells from the epididymis
Uploaded: 2017-08-03T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings of Isolated Primary Epithelial Cells from the Epididymis at JoVE.com

We thank Dr. Christopher Antos for helpful comments on the text. This work was supported by start-up funding from ShanghaiTech University awarded to Winnie Shum and by the funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC no. 31471370).

All animal experiments are carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the ShanghaiTech University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which fulfill the local and international requirements.
1. Experimental Animals
<ol>
	<li>Use adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (~300-450 g) between 8-12 weeks old. At this age in the rats, the sperm have arrived in the cauda epididymides.</li>
</ol>
2. Isolation of Epithelial Cells from Rat Cauda Epididymides
<p class="jo...

<ol>
	<li>Shum, W. W. C., Ruan, Y. C., Da Silva, N., Breton, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Establishment+of+Cell-Cell+Cross+Talk+in+the+Epididymis:+Control+of+Luminal+Acidification.">Establishment of Cell-Cell Cross Talk in the Epididymis: Control of Luminal Acidification.</a> J Androl. 32 (6), 576-586 (2011).</li><li>Robaire, B., Hinton, B. T., Plant, T. M., Zeleznik, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Knobil and Neill's Physiology of Reproduction. , 691-771 (2015).</li><li>Da Silva, N., 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+dense+network+of+dendritic+cells+populates+the+murine+epididymis.">A dense network of dendritic cells populates the murine epididymis.</a> Reproduction. 141 (5), 653-663 (2011).</li><li>Kolb, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Special Issue on Ionic Channels II. , 51-91 (1990).</li><li>Clapham, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium+Signaling.">Calcium Signaling.</a> Cell. 80 (2), 259-268 (1995).</li><li>Frizzell, R. A., Hanrahan, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Physiology+of+Epithelial+Chloride+and+Fluid+Secretion.">Physiology of Epithelial Chloride and Fluid Secretion.</a> Cold Spr Harb Pers Med. 2 (6), (2012).</li><li>Wong, P. Y. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CFTR+gene+and+male+fertility.">CFTR gene and male fertility.</a> Mol Hum Reprod. 4 (2), 107-110 (1998).</li><li>Shum, W. W. C., 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=Transepithelial+Projections+from+Basal+Cells+Are+Luminal+Sensors+in+Pseudostratified+Epithelia.">Transepithelial Projections from Basal Cells Are Luminal Sensors in Pseudostratified Epithelia.</a> Cell. 135 (6), 1108-1117 (2008).</li><li>Gao, D. Y., 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=Coupling+of+TRPV6+and+TMEM16A+in+epithelial+principal+cells+of+the+rat+epididymis.">Coupling of TRPV6 and TMEM16A in epithelial principal cells of the rat epididymis.</a> J Gen Physiol. 148 (2), 161-182 (2016).</li><li>Huang, S. 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=Electrophysiological+Studies+of+Anion+Secretion+in+Cultured+Human+Epididymal+Cells.">Electrophysiological Studies of Anion Secretion in Cultured Human Epididymal Cells.</a> J Physiol. 455, 455-469 (1992).</li><li>Chan, H. C., Fu, W. O., Chung, Y. W., Chan, P. S. F., Wong, P. Y. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+Atp-Activated+Cation+Conductance+in+Human+Epididymal+Cells.">An Atp-Activated Cation Conductance in Human Epididymal Cells.</a> Biol Repro. 52 (3), 645-652 (1995).</li><li>Cheung, K. H., 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=Cell-cell+interaction+underlies+formation+of+fluid+in+the+male+reproductive+tract+of+the+rat.">Cell-cell interaction underlies formation of fluid in the male reproductive tract of the rat.</a> J Gen Physiol. 125 (5), 443-454 (2005).</li><li>Pastor-Soler, N., Pietrement, C., Breton, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+acid/base+transporters+in+the+male+reproductive+tract+and+potential+consequences+of+their+malfunction.">Role of acid/base transporters in the male reproductive tract and potential consequences of their malfunction.</a> Physiol. 20, 417-428 (2005).</li><li>Evans, A. M., Osipenko, O. N., Haworth, S. G., Gurney, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Resting+potentials+and+potassium+currents+during+development+of+pulmonary+artery+smooth+muscle+cells.">Resting potentials and potassium currents during development of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.</a> Ame J Physiol-Heart Circ Physiol. 275 (3), 887-899 (1998).</li><li>Golowasch, 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=Membrane+Capacitance+Measurements+Revisited:+Dependence+of+Capacitance+Value+on+Measurement+Method+in+Nonisopotential+Neurons.">Membrane Capacitance Measurements Revisited: Dependence of Capacitance Value on Measurement Method in Nonisopotential Neurons.</a> J Neurophysiol. 102 (4), 2161-2175 (2009).</li><li>Cole, K. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Membranes, Ions and Impulses. A Chapter of Classical Biophysics. , (1968).</li><li>Lo, C. M., Keese, C. R., Giaever, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Impedance+analysis+of+MDCK+cells+measured+by+electric+cell-substrate+impedance+sensing.">Impedance analysis of MDCK cells measured by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing.</a> Biophys J. 69, 2800-2807 (1995).</li><li>Solsona, C., Innocenti, B., Fernandez, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+exocytotic+fusion+by+cell+inflation.">Regulation of exocytotic fusion by cell inflation.</a> Biophys J. 74 (2), 1061-1073 (1998).</li><li>Robinson, D. W., Cameron, W. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Time-dependent+changes+in+input+resistance+of+rat+hypoglossal+motoneurons+associated+with+whole-cell+recording.">Time-dependent changes in input resistance of rat hypoglossal motoneurons associated with whole-cell recording.</a> J Neurophysiol. 83 (5), 3160-3164 (2000).</li><li>Sontheimer, H., Boulton, A. A., Baker, G. B., Walz, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Neuro Methods: Patch-Clamp Applications and Protocols. , (1995).</li><li>Cheung, Y. M., Hwang, J. C., Wong, P. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epithelial+membrane+potentials+of+the+epididymis+in+rats+[proceedings].">Epithelial membrane potentials of the epididymis in rats [proceedings].</a> J Physiol. 263 (2), 280 (1976).</li><li>Lybaert, 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=KATP+channel+subunits+are+expressed+in+the+epididymal+epithelium+in+several+mammalian+species.">KATP channel subunits are expressed in the epididymal epithelium in several mammalian species.</a> Biol Reprod. 79 (2), 253-261 (2008).</li></ol>

In this protocol, the enzymatic dispersion of the rat cauda epididymides consistently yielded healthy epithelial cells. The quality of the epididymal epithelial cells for the patch-clamp experiments is dependent on a few critical steps in the protocol. For instance, the centrifugation of the cell mixture at a low centrifugal force (30 x g) is important for removing the spermatozoa and the epididymal luminal content; the epididymal epithelial cells become unhealthy in the presence of the spermatozoa in the cell culture. I...

The epididymis in the male reproductive tract is an organ lined with a layer of mosaic epithelial cells. As in other epithelial tissues, the various cell types of the epididymal epithelium, including principal cells, clear cells, basal cells and cells from the immunological and lymphatic systems, work in a concerted manner to function as the barrier at the tubule frontline and as the supporting cells for sperm maturation and physiology1,2,3. Thus, these epithelial cells play an essential role in reproductive health.
Epithelial cells are generally regarded as non-excitable cells that are unable to generate all-or-none action potentials in response to depolarizing stimuli, due to a lack of voltage-gated Na+ or Ca2+ channels4,5. However, epithelial cells express unique sets of ion channels and transporters that regulate their specialized physiological roles, such as secretion and nutrient transportation6. Different epithelial cells therefore possess characteristic electrical properties. For example, the principal cells express the CFTR for fluid and chloride transportation and express the TRPV6 for calcium reabsorption, whereas the clear cells express the proton pump V-ATPase for luminal acidification1,7,8,9. Some transporters and ion channels that regulate the physiological features of the epididymal epithelial cells have been reported, but the functional properties of epididymal epithelial cells are largely not yet understood10,11,12,13.
Whole-cell patch-clamp recording is a well-established technique for examining the intrinsic properties of both excitable and non-excitable cells, and is particularly helpful for studying the functions of primarily dissociated cells in heterogeneous cell samples; the voltage-clamp is used for measuring the passive membrane properties and the ionic currents of single cells14,15. The passive membrane properties include input resistance and capacitance. The former parameter indicates the intrinsic membrane conductance, while the latter implies the surface area of the cell membrane (a phospholipid bilayer, where ion channels and transporters are located, that serves as a thin insulator separating extracellular and intracellular media). The membrane capacitance is directly proportional to the cell membrane&#39;s surface area. Together with the membrane resistance that is reflected by the input resistance, the membrane time constant, which indicates how fast the cell membrane potential responds to the flow of ion channel currents, can be determined. In this regard, by combining the current response characteristics from a series of voltage steps applied to the cells, the biophysical kinetics and properties of the cells are determined15,16,17,18.
In the present paper, we describe the procedures for isolating epithelial cells from the rat cauda epididymis and the steps for measuring the membrane properties of different cell types in the dissociated cell mixture using the whole-cell patch-clamp. We show that the epididymal principal cells exhibit distinct membrane electrophysiological properties and that the conductances can be readily identified from other cell types.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="624">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Instrument of AXON system</td>
			<td style="width:129px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="64">
			<td height="64" style="height:64px;width:149px;">Computer controlled amplifier</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Molecular Devices - Axon</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Multiclamp 700B patch-clamp amplifier</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Digital Acquisition system</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Molecular Devices - Axon</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Digidata 1550 converter</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">BX-61WI</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Micromanipulator</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sutter Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">MPC-325</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Recording chamber and in-line Heater</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Warner Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">TC-324C</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Instrument of HEKA system</td>
			<td style="width:129px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Patch Clamp amplifier</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Harvard Bioscience - HEKA</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">EPC-10 USB double</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">IX73</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Micromanipulator</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sutter Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">MPC-325</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Recording chamber and in-line Heater</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Warner Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">TC-324C</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Other Instrument</td>
			<td style="width:129px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Micropipette Puller</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sutter Instrument&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">P-1000</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="64">
			<td height="64" style="height:64px;width:149px;">Recording Chamber</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Warner Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">RC-26G or homemade chamber</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="64">
			<td height="64" style="height:64px;width:149px;">Borosilicate capillary glass with filament</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sutter Instrument / Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">BF150-86-10</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Vibration isolation table</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">TMC&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">63544</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Digital Camare</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">HAMAMASTU</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">ORCA-Flash4.0 V2 C11440-22CU</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Reagents for isolation</td>
			<td style="width:129px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">RPMI 1640 medium</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">22400089</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Gibca</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">15140112</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">IMDM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">ATCC&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">30-2005&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">IMDM</td>
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:129px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">C12440500BT</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Collagenase I</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">C0130</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Collagenase II</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">C6885</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:149px;">5-&#945;-dihydrotestosterone</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Medchemexpress</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">HY-A0120</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">capricorn</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">FBS-12A</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="106">
			<td height="106" style="height:106px;width:149px;">Micropipette internal solutions (K+-based solution) (pH 7.2, 280-295 mOsm)</td>
			<td style="width:129px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">KCl, 35mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">V900068</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;width:149px;">MgCl2 &#183; 6H2O, 2mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">M2393</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">EGTA, 0.1mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">E4378</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">HEPES, 10mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">V900477</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">K-gluconate, 100mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">P-1847</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Mg-ATP, 3mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/Various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">A9187</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="106">
			<td height="106" style="height:106px;width:149px;">The standard external recording physiological salt solution (PSS) (pH 7.4, 300-310 mOsm)</td>
			<td style="width:129px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">NaCl, 140mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">V900058</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">KCl, 4.7mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">V900068</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;width:149px;">CaCl2, 2.5mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">V900266</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;width:149px;">MgCl2 &#183; 6H2O, 1.2mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">M2393</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;width:149px;">NaH2PO4, 1.2mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">V900060</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">HEPES, 10mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">V900477</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">Glucose, 10mM</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">V900392</td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">For pH adjustment</td>
			<td style="width:129px;"></td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td style="width:207px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">NaOH</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">V900797</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Purity &#62;=97%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:149px;">KOH</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Sigma/various</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">60371</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Purity &#62;=99.99%</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of isolated primary epithelial cells from the epididymis

The epididymis is an essential organ for sperm maturation and reproductive health. The epididymal epithelium consists of intricately connected cell types that are distinct not only in molecular and morphological features but also in physiological properties. These differences reflect their diverse functions, which together establish the necessary microenvironment for the post-testicular sperm development in the epididymal lumen. The understanding of the biophysical properties of the epididymal epithelial cells is critical for revealing their functions in sperm and reproductive health, under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. While their functional properties have yet to be fully elucidated, the epididymal epithelial cells can be studied using the patch-clamp technique, a tool for measuring the cellular events and the membrane properties of single cells. Here, we describe the methods of cell isolation and whole-cell patch-clamp recording to measure the electrical properties of primary dissociated epithelial cells from the rat cauda epididymides.

The described enzymatic digestion procedure for the isolation of epithelial cells from the rat cauda epididymides is a modified protocol from our previous studies9,12. This method produces a mixture of single cells with over 90% viability and without surface blisters or swollen cell volume. The heterogeneous cell mixture consists mainly of principal cells, clear cells and basal cells, as we have described previously<sup class="xre...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings of Isolated Primary Epithelial Cells from the Epididymis at JoVE.com

Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings of Isolated Primary Epithelial Cells from the Epididymis

We present a protocol that combines cell isolation and whole-cell patch-clamp recording to measure the electrical properties of the primary dissociated epithelial cells from the rat cauda epididymides. This protocol allows for investigation of the functional properties of primary epididymal epithelial cells to further elucidate the physiological role of the epididymis.

The epididymis is an essential organ for sperm maturation and reproductive health. The epididymal epithelium consists of intricately connected cell types ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Using Isolated Mitochondria from Minimal Quantities of Mouse Skeletal Muscle for High throughput Microplate Respiratory Measurements

Skeletal muscle mitochondria play a specific role in many disease pathologies. As such, the measurement of oxygen consumption as an indicator of ...

Primary Endodermal Epithelial Cell Culture from the Yolk Sac Membrane of Japanese Quail Embryos

We established an endodermal epithelial cell culture model (EEC) for studying the function of certain enzymes and proteins in mediating nutrient ...

Cultivate Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells from Children and Reprogram into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Nasal epithelial cells (NECs) are the part of the airways that respond to air pollutants and are the first cells infected with respiratory viruses. They ...

Development of an In Vitro Assay to Evaluate Contractile Function of Mesenchymal Cells that Underwent Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Development of an In Vitro Assay to Evaluate Contractile Function of Mesenchymal Cells that Underwent Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Fibrosis is often involved in the pathogenesis of various chronic progressive diseases such as interstitial pulmonary disease. Pathological hallmark is ...

In Vitro Colony Assays for Characterizing Tri-potent Progenitor Cells Isolated from the Adult Murine Pancreas

In Vitro Colony Assays for Characterizing Tri-potent Progenitor Cells Isolated from the Adult Murine Pancreas

Stem and progenitor cells from the adult pancreas could be a potential source of therapeutic beta-like cells for treating patients with type 1 diabetes. ...

Generation of Induced-pluripotent Stem Cells Using Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes Isolated from Joints of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Mature somatic cells can be reversed into a pluripotent stem cell-like state using a defined set of reprogramming factors. Numerous studies have generated ...

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells

Phenotypic plasticity refers to a phenomenon in which cells transiently gain traits of another lineage. During carcinoma progression, phenotypic ...

Rapid, Directed Differentiation of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Human Embryonic or Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

We describe a robust method to direct the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). The purpose of providing ...

The Isolation and Culture of Primary Epicardial Cells Derived from Human Adult and Fetal Heart Specimens

The epicardium, an epithelial cell layer covering the myocardium, has an essential role during cardiac development, as well as in the repair response of ...

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) germline is used to study several biologically important processes including stem cell development, apoptosis, and ...