Double-cell voltage-clamp techniqu

Cultured embryonic chick heart cells often form coupled cell pairs or aggregates which may be studied using the double-cell voltage-clamp technique. In the following an isolation and culture protocol is given as used in the author s laboratory. Besides this, other protocols may also suit. 

In this chapter more detailed information on the double-cell voltage-clamp setup and protocols for assessing gap junctional conductivity is given, as well as a description of the cell-isolation procedure for this purpose and cell culture models. Information on immunocytochemical localization of gap junctions and on the experimental procedure of preparing specimens and slides for immunohistology is given. A protocol for isolation of gap junction proteins is also outlined. Readers interested in more details of the cell-culture technique regarding incubators, sterile technique, etc., and different isolation and culture protocols are referred to more specialized literature [Lindl and Bauer, 1994 Piper, 1990]. 

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