Résumé
Ion channels are studied most commonly in animal tissues for practical reasons. However, studies of human ion channels are important because of species-dependent differences. In addition, no single animal model can adequately represent the wide variety of causes and manifestations of some clinical syndromes. The development of modern techniques such as patchclamp, molecular biology, and genetics, together with the evolution of surgical techniques and single-cell methods, facilitates studies in human tissues. This chapter focuses on selected aspects of studies on the molecular physiology of human ion channels. The specific aims are to describe (1) the methods for isolation and culture of myocytes, (2) the techniques to combine both molecular and electrophysiological approaches, and (3) the advantages and limits inherent in the use of human cells and to draw perspectives from such studies. Most of the experience was obtained in cardiovascular myocytes but the techniques and methods presented here are also applicable to other human tissues.