Name: cytological analysis of spermatogenesis: live and fixed preparations of drosophila testes
Uploaded: 2014-01-20T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis: Live and Fixed Preparations of Drosophila Testes at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Michael Anderson for establishing in the Lee lab these accepted methods for studying spermatogenesis with expert advice from Karen Hales. H. Oda and Y. Akiyama-Oda generously provided the &#947;-tubulin-GFP fly stock. This work was supported by an NIH R01 grant to L.A.L. (GM074044).

1.&#160;Testes Dissection
<ol>
	<li>Anesthetize flies in a bottle or vial using a stream of CO2 and transfer to a fly pad.</li>
	<li>Sort flies under a dissecting microscope using a small paintbrush, and collect an appropriate number (depending on the experiment) of Drosophila males of the desired genotypes. Young males (0-2 days old) are ideal for examining cells throughout the earlier stages of spermatogenesis (e.g. spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and early post-meiotic spermatids), whereas...

<ol>
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Although the testes of wild-type flies can be readily identified due to their yellow color (in contrast the neighboring white tissues), the testes of white mutant flies are white and thus can occasionally be confused with the gut. Most transgenic strains, which are typically in a white background, also have white testes because the mini-white gene found in P-elements does not promote pigment accumulation in the testes. When Drosophila testes cannot be distinguished by color, o...

Drosophila testes are an ideal model system for the study of many biological processes including the regulation of stem cells, meiosis, and sperm development13-18. The spermatocytes and their meiotic spindles are large and hence convenient for cytological analysis, and relaxed cell cycle checkpoints during spermatogenesis facilitate the study of mutations in cell cycle genes. Different cell types can be observed in ordered progression along the length of the testes, and any disruption in spermatogenesis can lead to changes in this overall arrangement. These features combined with Drosophila genetic tools have facilitated the mutational analysis of spermatogenesis21-23.
The stages of Drosophila spermatogenesis have been well defined. Germline cells that develop synchronously within cysts progress sequentially through the stages of spermatogenesis along the length of the testis. During both the mitotic and meiotic divisions of the male germ cells, cytokinesis occurs incompletely such that the daughter cells remain connected by cytoplasmic bridges known as ring canals (Figure 1). The apical tip of the testis contains a population of germline stem cells that gives rise to spermatogonial cells, which undergo four mitotic divisions with incomplete cytokinesis to generate 16-cell cysts of primary spermatocytes. After premeiotic S phase, primary spermatocytes enter G2, a prolonged growth period of ~90 hr during which cellular volume increases ~25-fold. Progression through meiosis I and meiosis II results in the formation of 32-cell cysts of secondary spermatocytes and 64-cell cysts of haploid spermatids, respectively. The immature, round spermatids undergo extensive cellular remodeling to form mature sperm. Post-meiotic cells, in particular the bundles of elongating and mature spermatids, occupy much of the volume of the testis.
The successful transport of functional sperm to female flies requires coordination between the different parts of the male reproductive system, which is composed of several paired structures (the testes, seminal vesicles, and accessory glands) and a single ejaculatory duct (Figure 2). Sperm are produced within the testes and stored within the seminal vesicles until copulation24. The accessory glands contain secretory cells that produce seminal fluid. The sperm migrating from the seminal vesicles are mixed with seminal fluid within the ejaculatory duct, which is connected to both the seminal vesicles and the accessory glands. This mixture of sperm and seminal fluid is ultimately pumped out of the male into the vagina of the female fly through the ejaculatory bulb located at the posterior end of the male abdomen25. Proteins within the seminal fluid are essential for prolonged storage of sperm within specialized organs known as spermathecae in the reproductive tract of Drosophila females26.
Excellent methods for the isolation of Drosophila testes and visualization of cells at various stages of spermatogenesis are available in the scientific literature3-12. We herein add to this body of knowledge by presenting examples of these protocols with an accompanying video demonstration. The protocol for preparation of live testes samples for phase-contrast microscopy is based on a previously described method27. The protocol for formaldehyde fixation and immunostaining of testes is also based on a previously described method28. The approaches described herein have been used in many studies of Drosophila spermatogenesis (for example, to assess the roles of dynein, a minus-end-directed microtubule motor, during Drosophila spermatogenesis).
In addition to the basic protocols, suggestions are provided for varying the dissection so as to enrich for spermatogonia, spermatocytes, or mature sperm. Different methods for processing the testes such that cysts either remain intact or are disrupted as needed are described. An advantage in using Drosophila testes as a model system is that, compared to Drosophila oocytes and embryos, antibodies and dyes can easily penetrate cells following their dispersal from the testes, and fewer washing steps are required; thus, protocols can be performed in a relatively short time.

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			<td height="61" style="height:61px;width:351px;">Sylgard</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">SYLG184</td>
			<td style="width:321px;">Two-part silicon elastomer for making silicone-coated dissection dish from Kimax Petri dish</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">PAP pen</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">NC9888126</td>
			<td style="width:321px;">Ted Pella #22309</td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Clear nail protector</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Wet n Wild</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">7780235001</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ProLong Gold Antifade Reagent with DAPI</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td>P36931</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Mouse anti-gamma-tubulin antibody (clone GTU-88)</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T6557</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cy3-AffiniPure Goat Anti-Mouse IgG&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td>115-165-003</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Triton X-100</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">BP151-100</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ethanol</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">AC61511-0040</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Methanol</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">A412-4</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">16% Formaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">28908</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
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		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:351px;">Sigmacote</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">SL2</td>
			<td style="width:321px;">Use according to manufacturer&#39;s directions to siliconize cover slips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">DAPI</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">D-9542</td>
			<td style="width:321px;">0.5 mg/ml in 75% ethanol; store at -20&#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:351px;">NaCl</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Research Products International Corp.</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">S23020</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Na2HPO4</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">S9763</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">NaH2PO4</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">S0751</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Kimwipes delicate task wipers</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S47299</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:351px;">BSA</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Research Products International Corp.</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">A30075</td>
			<td style="width:321px;">Molecular biology grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;">Glass Coplin staining jar, screw cap</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>70315</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Single frosted microscope slides</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>2948-75X25</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;">Poly-L-lysine coated microscope slides</td>
			<td>Polysciences, Inc.</td>
			<td>22247-1</td>
			<td style="width:321px;">Optional (to replace untreated microscope slides )</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Square cover glass</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">2865-22</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Razor blades</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">12-640</td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Kimax Petri dish</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">S31473</td>
			<td style="width:321px;">Kimble #23060 10015 EMD</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Forceps</td>
			<td>Dumont</td>
			<td>52100-51S</td>
			<td>Pattern 5 INOX</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;"></td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
			<td style="width:127px;"></td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;"></td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
			<td style="width:127px;"></td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Name of Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:127px;"></td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Stemi 2000-CS stereoscope</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:127px;"></td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Eclipse 80i</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Nikon</td>
			<td style="width:127px;"></td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Plan-Fluor 40x objective</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Nikon</td>
			<td style="width:127px;"></td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Axiophot</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:127px;"></td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:351px;">Plan-Neofluar Ph2 40x objective</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:127px;"></td>
			<td style="width:321px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

cytological analysis of spermatogenesis: live and fixed preparations of drosophila testes

Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model system that has been widely used to elucidate a variety of biological processes. For example, studies of both the female and male germ lines of Drosophila have contributed greatly to the current understanding of meiosis as well as stem cell biology. Excellent protocols are available in the literature for the isolation and imaging of Drosophila ovaries&#160;and testes3-12. Herein, methods for the dissection and preparation of Drosophila testes for microscopic analysis are described with an accompanying video demonstration. A protocol for isolating testes from the abdomen of adult males and preparing slides of live tissue for analysis by phase-contrast microscopy as well as a protocol for fixing and immunostaining testes for analysis by fluorescence microscopy are presented. These techniques can be applied in the characterization of Drosophila mutants that exhibit defects in spermatogenesis as well as in the visualization of subcellular localizations of proteins.

An example of a properly dissected pair of Drosophila male reproductive organs is shown in Figure 2A. Testes removed from the abdomen of the adult male fly are typically attached to the ejaculatory duct (brown, Figure 2A&#39;) and a pair of accessory glands (green, Figure 2A&#39;) via a pair of seminal vesicles (blue, Figure 2A&#39;). To separate the testes from most of the accompanying somatic tissue, the ejaculatory duct and the accessory glan...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis: Live and Fixed Preparations of Drosophila Testes at JoVE.com

Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis: Live and Fixed Preparations of Drosophila Testes

Methods for isolating and preparing Drosophila testes samples (live and fixed) for imaging by phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy are described herein.&#160;

Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis: Live and Fixed Preparations of Drosophila Testes

Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model system that has been widely used to elucidate a variety of biological processes. For example, studies of both ...

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Biology

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Many investigations in neuroscience, as well as other disciplines, involve studying small, yet macroscopic pieces or sections of tissue that have been ...

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Isolation of Drosophila melanogaster Testes

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