Studying the mechanosensitivity of voltage-gated channels using oocyte patches

Located in the book "Xenopus Protocols: Cell Biology and Signal Transduction" edited by Johne X Liu, the chapter, "Studying the mechanosensitivity of voltage-gated channels using oocyte patches" was written by the listed authors including Terence J. Morris (Douglas College Faculty).
Book chapter: The mechanosensitivity of voltage-gated (VG) channels is of biophysical, physiological, and pathophysiological interest. Xenopus oocytes offer a critical advantage for investigating the electrophysiology of recombinant VG channels subjected to membrane stretch, namely, the ability to monitor macroscopic current from membrane patches. High-density channel expression in oocytes makes for macroscopic current in conventional-size, mechanically sturdy patches. With the patch configuration, precisely the same membrane that is voltage-clamped is the membrane subjected to on-off stretch stimuli. With patches, meaningful stretch dose responses are possible. Experimental design should facilitate within-patch comparisons wherever possible. The mechanoresponses of some VG channels depend critically on patch history. Methods for minimizing and coping with interference from endogenous voltage-dependent and stretch-activated endogenous channels are described.