Abstract.
Perforated whole-cell patch-clamp recordings obtained with nystatin are frequently used to preserve intracellular integrity. However, the perforated-patch configuration may sometimes undergo a spontaneous change into the conventional whole-cell configuration, especially when lymphocytes are investigated. The electrophysiological criteria – previously described – for establishing the existence of the perforated whole-cell configuration have been shown to be insufficient. Thus, the dye eosin, applied to the pipette solution, was tested as a tool for discriminating between the perforated and the conventional whole-cell configurations on rat T-lymphocytes. The dye never entered the cell from the pipette during the entire measurement in the perforated whole-cell configuration. In contrast, all cells in the conventional whole-cell configuration became red immediately after membrane rupture. Eosin barely changed the currents studied. The results suggest that eosin is a dye of choice for verifying a true perforated-patch configuration.
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Strauss, U., Herbrik, M., Mix, E. et al. Whole-cell patch-clamp: true perforated or spontaneous conventional recordings?. Pflügers Arch - Eur J Physiol 442, 634–638 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004240100578
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004240100578