A new method of preparing the basal membrane of renal tubules for patch clamp, using beetle malpighian tubules.

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.