Low-noise amplification of voltage and current fluctuations arising in epithelia

Two low-noise differential input amplifiers designed for voltage and current fluctuation measurements in epithelia are described. The first one uses a matched pair of low-noise transistors and is particularly suited for low-frequency current and voltage noise measurements in frog skin and other preparations with impedances below 1 kOmega. The second one is designed around a matched pair of JFETs and can also be used for higher source impedance. Performance is demonstrated with Na(+) current power density spectra obtained from frog skin with the transistor-input stage.