Fusion of amphibian proximal convoluted cells into giant cells.

We applied the technique of renal cell fusion to the proximal convoluted tubule of Necturus kidney. Giant fused cells from this segment exhibit stable cell membrane potential, Vm, for several tens of minutes. These cells display a number of electrophysiological properties characteristic of both the apical and basolateral membranes of the proximal tubule. These include 1) significant K+ conductance, 2) no detectable Cl- conductance, 3) apical Na-glucose and Na-amino-acid electrogenic carriers, 4) basolateral ouabain-sensitive Na-K pump activity and 5) basolateral Na/HCO3 cotransport.