Este trabajo fue apoyado por el NIH subvención NS27501 a DKOD. El apoyo adicional para este trabajo a partir de un subsidio del HHMI profesor de DKOD.

I. Drosophila de recogida de embriones <ol><li> Preparar las placas de recolección de huevos <ol><li> Hervir 200 ml dH 2 O con 8 g de agar </li><li> Enfriar a 50 ° C </li><li> Añadir 2 ml de EtOH y 2 ml de ácido acético </li><li> Vierta la mezcla en 35 mm placas petri de plástico, tapas </li><li> Dejar enfriar y guardar en un recipiente hermético a 4 º C </li><li> Hace aproximadamente 80 placas </li></ol></li><li> Preparar pasta de levadura <ol><li> Disolver la levadura para hornear Fleishmans activo en agua para formar una pasta </li><li> Microondas por 20-30 segundos para matar la levadura (cuidado con los hirviendo) </li><li> Tienda en jeringa de 10 cc (sin aguja) a 4 ° C durante 2 semanas </li></ol></li><li> Moscas: Los adultos utilizados para la recolección de huevos son generalmente más productivos entre los 3 y 14 días después de salir, siempre y cuando hayan tenido acceso a los alimentos frescos. Muchas poblaciones de mutantes tienen disminución de la fertilidad que puede manifestarse en una tasa baja de la puesta de huevos y un cambio en la edad en que son más productivos. Por lo general, varios cientos de adultos para hacer una buena puesta de huevos de la población. </li><li> Procedimiento: Aplique una capa delgada de pasta de levadura en una placa de recolección de huevos. Esto proporciona un sustrato favorable para la puesta de huevos. Adultos transferencia vuela a una botella limpia y recolección de huevos de cintas de recogida de la placa en la boca de la botella. No deje que las moscas en estas botellas de más de 3-4 horas cuando la humedad aumenta y las moscas se atascan en pasta y en los lados de la botella. </li></ol> II. Embrión Dechorionation con el blanqueo <ol><li> Establecer un embudo Büchner conectado a un frasco de vacío conectado a un aspirador. Ponga un pedazo de papel Whatman # 1 en el embudo. Con aspiración correr, mojar el papel con agua destilada estéril. </li><li> Enjuague los embriones de las placas de colección en el papel de filtro con un chorro de agua de una botella de lavado. </li><li> Enjuague en varios volúmenes de agua estéril, apague aspirador, y luego agregar un volumen embudo del 50% de cloro. Deje que los huevos se sientan durante 5-10 minutos. El corion se disuelven en 1-2 minutos, pero cuanto más tiempo se deje a los embriones en el blanqueo más contaminante de la levadura será destruido. Escoja cualquier adultos o larvas que se han enjuagado plato. </li><li> Enjuague los embriones en una placa de Petri estéril (no el cultivo de tejidos) con agua destilada estéril. Muchos de los embriones se pegue en el fondo del plato si no ha sido previamente mojado. Enjuagar varias veces con agua estéril en este plato. </li><li> Examinar los embriones con la luz transmitida a escoger a mediados de gástrula embriones etapa. </li></ol> III. Preparación de los cultivos de un solo embrión <ol><li> Hacer DDM1 (ver recetas en la sección IV) </li><li> Vierta el agua fuera de plato de embriones justo antes de cultivo. Cubrir los embriones con medio estéril. </li><li> Establecido 3, 35 mm placas de Petri. Ponga en 4 cubreobjetos redondos autoclave en cada plato. En cada portaobjetos, poner 5 l de medio. Use Bellco cubreobjetos bajo coverlips de vidrio de plomo. Bellco Biológica Cristalería 800-257-7043 Cat # 1943-00012 </li><li> Tire algunas pipetas bastante bien. El pipetas que usamos se tiran en una Narishige PP-83 extractor. Las dimensiones exactas de la pipeta no son esenciales y solemos tirar más fino de lo que quieren y les rompa la punta en el mismo campo de visión que el embrión para medir el tamaño. Usted no quiere a absorber todos los embriones de una sola vez, y tu no quieres la punta tan pequeña que se toma 5 minutos para absorber las células. Objetivo de un punto intermedio. Examinar los embriones con luz transmitida y el uso de un tubo de succión conectado a la boca de la pipeta para retirar el contenido del embrión. Dispersar las células en el portaobjetos preparados con cuidado la expulsión de las células lo más cerca posible del cubreobjetos como sea posible. Es posible que desee examinar el cubreobjetos con mayor potencia y mayor dispersión de las células de la misma manera. </li><li> Permitan que las células se siente por no más de 10 minutos. Inundar el plato con los medios de comunicación y poner en la incubadora, un 4-5% el medio ambiente de CO 2, si se utiliza un medio definido. Temperatura entre 22-24 º C. Nosotros usamos 23 ° C y 95% de humedad. La humedad es importante, ya que quieren evitar la evaporación. Usted puede utilizar un estándar de la incubadora de mamíferos colocado en una cámara frigorífica con el control de temperatura a 23 ° C. </li></ol> IV. DDM1 medio definido para el cultivo de las culturas <ol><li> Hacer DMEM: A 100 ml de F12/DME jamón en los Medios (DMEM) (Irvine Scientific # 9052). <ol><li> Añadir 0,476 g Hepes (20 mM) (Sigma N º H-3375). Mezcla. </li><li> Añadir 1,25 ml de L-glutamina 200 mM (Irvine Scientific # 9317). Mezcla. </li><li> Filtro de campana con jeringa de 0,2 micras filtro de acetato (necesita dos filtros). </li><li> El pH es 6,64 y OSM 288. </li><li> Hacer alícuotas de 10 ml en tubos de centrífuga de 15 ml. </li><li> Almacenar a 4 ° C por no más de 2 semanas. Nota: Siempre use agua esterilizada filtrada y que en los envases que están reservados para los medios de comunicación y suplementos solamente. Nunca coloque un electrodo de pH o una barra de agitación utilizados para otros fines en Media.To hacer DDM1: Añadir suplementos se indican a continuaciónde DMEM justo antes de cultivo. </li></ol></li><li> A 10 ml de DMEM añadir: <ul><li> 100 l de transferrina </li><li> 100 putrescina l </li><li> Selenio 100 l </li><li> La progesterona 100 l </li><li> 50 La insulina l </li></ul></li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Rohrbough, J., O'Dowd, D. K., Baines, R. A., Broadie, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+bases+of+behavioral+plasticity:+Establishing+and+modifying+synaptic+circuits+in+the+Drosophila+Genetic+System.">Cellular bases of behavioral plasticity: Establishing and modifying synaptic circuits in the Drosophila Genetic System.</a> J. Neurobiol. 54, 254-271 (2003).</li><li>O'Dowd, D. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Voltage-gated+currents+and+firing+properties+of+embryonic+Drosophila+neurons+grown+in+a+chemically+defined+medium.">Voltage-gated currents and firing properties of embryonic Drosophila neurons grown in a chemically defined medium.</a> J. Neurobiol. 27, 113-126 (1995).</li><li>Lee, D., O'Dowd, D. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fast+excitatory+synaptic+transmission+mediated+by+nAChR+in+cultured+Drosophila+neurons.">Fast excitatory synaptic transmission mediated by nAChR in cultured Drosophila neurons.</a> J. Neurosci. 19, 5311-5321 (1999).</li><li>Lee, D., O'Dowd, D. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cyclic-AMP-dependent+plasticity+at+excitatory+cholinergic+synapses+in+Drosophila+neurons:+Alterations+in+the+memory+mutant+dunce.">Cyclic-AMP-dependent plasticity at excitatory cholinergic synapses in Drosophila neurons: Alterations in the memory mutant dunce.</a> J. Neurosci. 20, 2104-2111 (2000).</li><li>Hodges, D. D., Lee, D., Boswell, K., Preston, C. F., Hall, L. M., O'Dowd, D. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=tipE+regulates+sodium-dependent+repetitive+firing+in+Drosophila+neurons.">tipE regulates sodium-dependent repetitive firing in Drosophila neurons.</a> Mol. Cell Neurosci. 19, 402-416 (2002).</li><li>Lee, D., Su, H., Dowd, O., K, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=GABA+receptors+containing+Rdl+subunits+mediate+fast+inhibitory+synaptic+transmission+in+Drosophila+neurons.">GABA receptors containing Rdl subunits mediate fast inhibitory synaptic transmission in Drosophila neurons.</a> J. Neurosci. 23, 4625-4634 (2003).</li></ol>

En cultivos de Drosophila preparado a partir de embriones etapa midgastrula las neuronas surgen a partir de precursores neuroblastos, muchos de los cuales se dividen antes de la diferenciación in vitro. Así, este sistema ofrece una oportunidad única para la exploración de los factores genéticos y ambientales importantes en las fases muy tempranas del desarrollo neuronal (Rohrbaugh et al., 2003). Hemos demostrado que las neuronas cultivadas en un medio simple definido diferenciarse en neuronas eléctricamente excitables, que también fo...

Los cultivos realizados en este medio de comunicación se debe mantener en un 5% incubadora de CO2 en alrededor de 22-24 º C. Nosotros usamos un estándar de cultivo de tejidos de mamíferos incubadora colocada en una habitación fría y se calienta a 23 ° C. Siempre se usa agua esterilizada filtrada y que en los envases que están reservados para los medios de comunicación y suplementos solamente. Nunca coloque un medidor de pH o una barra de agitación utilizados para otros fines en los medios de comunicación.

preparation of neuronal cultures from midgastrula stage drosophila embryos

Este video muestra el procedimiento para la toma de cultivos primarios de neuronas de midgastrula etapa embriones de Drosophila. Los métodos de recogida de embriones y su dechorionation el uso de cloro se ha demostrado. Con una pipeta de vidrio conectado a un tubo de succión de la boca, que ilustran la eliminación de todas las células de los embriones individuales. El método para la dispersión de las células de cada embyro en una pequeña (5 litros) gota de medio en un portaobjetos de vidrio sin recubrimiento se demuestra. Una vista a través del microscopio menos 1 hora después de la siembra ilustra la densidad celular preferida. La mayoría de las células que sobreviven cuando se cultivan en un medio definido son los neuroblastos que dividen a una o más veces en la cultura antes de extender los procesos de neuríticas por 12-24 horas. Una vista a través del microscopio muestra el nivel de crecimiento de las neuritas y la ramificación se espera en una cultura sana en 2 días in vitro. Los cultivos se envían en un bicarbonato de simple basada medio definido, en un 5% de CO 2 incubadora a 22-24 ° C. Procesos neuríticas siga elaborando durante la primera semana de la cultura y cuando hacen contacto con neuritas de las células vecinas a menudo se forman conexiones sinápticas funcionales. Las neuronas en estas culturas, se manifiestan de voltaje de sodio, calcio, y los canales de potasio y son eléctricamente excitables. Este sistema de cultivo es útil para el estudio molecular de factores genéticos y ambientales que regulan la diferenciación neuronal, la excitabilidad, y la formación de sinapsis / función.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Preparation of Neuronal Cultures from Midgastrula Stage Drosophila Embryos at JoVE.com

Preparation of Neuronal Cultures from Midgastrula Stage Drosophila Embryos

Este video muestra la preparación de cultivos primarios de neuronas de midgastrula etapa embriones de Drosophila. Puntos de vista de las culturas show en vivo de las células de una hora después de la siembra y las neuronas diferenciadas después de 2 días de crecimiento en un medio de bicarbonato definido. Las neuronas son eléctricamente excitables y forman conexiones sinápticas.

Preparación de cultivos neuronales a partir de embriones de Drosophila Midgastrula Etapa

This video illustrates the procedure for making primary neuronal cultures from midgastrula stage Drosophila embryos. The methods for collecting embryos ...

preparation-neuronal-cultures-from-midgastrula-stage-drosophila

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

8.7K vistas.  University of California, Irvine (UCI). Este video muestra la preparación de cultivos primarios de neuronas de midgastrula etapa embriones de Drosophila. Puntos de vista de las culturas show en vivo de las células de una hora después de la siembra y las neuronas diferenciadas después de 2 días de crecimiento en un medio de bicarbonato definido. Las neuronas son eléctricamente excitables y forman conexiones sinápticas.

Video: Preparation of Neuronal Cultures from Midgastrula Stage Drosophila Embryos

Primary Neuronal Cultures from the Brains of Late Stage Drosophila Pupae

In this video, we demonstrate the preparation of primary neuronal cultures from the brains of late stage Drosophila pupae. The procedure begins with the removal of brains from animals at 70-78 hrs after puparium formation. The isolated brains are shown after brief incubation in papain followed by several washes in serum-free growth medium. The process of mechanical dissociation of each brain in a 5 ul drop of media on a coverslip is illustrated. The axons and dendrites of the post-mitotic neurons are sheered off near the soma during dissociation but the neurons begin to regenerate processes within a few hours of plating. Images show live cultures at 2 days. Neurons continue to elaborate processes during the first week in culture. Specific neuronal populations can be identified in culture using GAL4 lines to drive tissue specific expression of fluorescent markers such as  GFP or RFP. Whole cell recordings have demonstrated the cultured neurons form functional, spontaneously active cholinergic and GABAergic synapses. A short video segment illustrates calcium dynamics in the cultured neurons using Fura-2 as a calcium indicator dye to monitor spontaneous calcium transients and nicotine evoked calcium responses in a dish of cultured neurons. These pupal brain cultures are a useful model system in which genetic and pharmacological tools can be used to identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence formation and function of central synapses.

This video demonstrates the preparation of primary neuronal cultures from the brains of late stage Drosophila pupae. Views of live cultures show neurite outgrowth and imaging of calcium levels using Fura-2.

Cultivos neuronales primarios del cerebro de Drosophila pupas etapa tardía

In this video, we demonstrate the preparation of primary neuronal cultures from the brains of late stage Drosophila pupae. The procedure begins with the ...

Investigación

Biología

Placing Growth Factor-Coated Beads on Early Stage Chicken Embryos

The neural tube expresses many proteins in specific spatiotemporal patterns during development. These proteins have been shown to be critical for cell fate determination, cell migration, and formation of neural circuits. Neuronal induction and patterning involve bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), sonic hedgehog (SHH), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), among others. In particular, the expression pattern of Fgf8 is in close proximity to regions expressing BMP4 and SHH. This expression pattern is consistent with developmental interactions that facilitate patterning in the telencephalon.

Here we provide a visual demonstration of a method in which an in ovo preparation can be used to test the effects of Fgfs in the formation of the forebrain. Beads are coated with protein and placed in the developing neural tube to provide sustained exposure. Because the procedure uses small, carefully placed beads, it is minimally invasive and allows several beads to be placed within a single neural tube. Moreover, the method allows for continued development so that embryos can be analyzed at a more mature stage to detect changes in anatomy and in neural patterning. This simple but useful protocol allows for real time imaging. It provides a means to make spatially and temporally limited changes to endogenous protein levels.

A variety of growth factors and proteins interact to induce cells to take on different cell fates during development. Here we demonstrate the use of an in ovo preparation to address possible interactions between different proteins in development by placing beads on E2.5 chick embryos.

La colocación de crecimiento recubierto Factor-bolas en los embriones tempranos de la etapa de pollo

The neural tube expresses many proteins in specific spatiotemporal patterns during development.   These proteins have been shown to be critical for cell ...

In Ovo Electroporations of HH Stage 10 Chicken Embryos

Large size and external development of the chicken embryo have long made it a valuable tool in the study of developmental biology.  With the advent of molecular biological techniques, the chick has become a useful system in which to study gene regulation and function.  By electroporating DNA or RNA constructs into the developing chicken embryo, genes can be expressed or knocked down in order to analyze in vivo gene function.  Similarly, reporter constructs can be used for fate mapping or to examine putative gene regulatory elements.  Compared to similar experiments in mouse, chick electroporation has the advantages of being quick, easy and inexpensive.  This video demonstrates first how to make a window in the eggshell to manipulate the embryo.  Next, the embryo is visualized with a dilute solution of India ink injected below the embryo.  A glass needle and pipette are used to inject DNA and Fast Green dye into the developing neural tube, then platinum electrodes are placed parallel to the embryo and short electrical pulses are administered with a pulse generator.  Finally, the egg is sealed with tape and placed back into an incubator for further development.  Additionally, the video shows proper egg storage and handling and discusses possible causes of embryo loss following electroporation.

Chick in ovo electroporation is a technique which allows genetic manipulation of the avian embryo. Common applications of this technique include functional analysis of genes and putative enhancer elements. This video demonstrates neural tube electroporation in HH 10 chick embryos. Injection technique and proper egg handling are discussed.

En Electroporations Ovo de embriones de pollo HH Etapa 10

Large size and external development of the chicken embryo have long made it a valuable tool in the study of developmental biology.  With the advent of ...

Neuronal Cell Cultures from Aplysia for High-Resolution Imaging of Growth Cones

Neuronal growth cones are the highly motile structures at the tip of axons that can detect guidance cues in the environment and transduce this information into directional movement towards the appropriate target cell. To fully understand how guidance information is transmitted from the cell surface to the underlying dynamic cytoskeletal networks, one needs a model system suitable for live cell imaging of protein dynamics at high temporal and spatial resolution. Typical vertebrate growth cones are too small to quantitatively analyze F-actin and microtubule dynamics. Neurons from the sea hare Aplysia californica are 5-10 times larger than vertebrate neurons, can easily be kept at room temperature and are very robust cells for micromanipulation and biophysical measurements. Their growth cones have very defined cytoplasmic regions and a well-described cytoskeletal system. The neuronal cell bodies can be microinjected with a variety of probes for studying growth cone motility and guidance. In the present protocol we demonstrate a procedure for dissection of the abdominal ganglion, culture of bag cell neurons and setting up an imaging chamber for live cell imaging of growth cones.

Aplysia californica neurons develop large growth cones in culture that are excellent for high-resolution imaging of growth cone motility and guidance. Here, we present a protocol for dissection and plating of Aplysia bag cell neurons as well as for setting up a chamber for live cell imaging.

Las culturas de las células nerviosas de Aplysia para imágenes de alta resolución de los Conos de Crecimiento

Neuronal growth cones are the highly motile structures at the tip of axons that can detect guidance cues in the environment and transduce this information ...

The Preparation of Drosophila Embryos for Live-Imaging Using the Hanging Drop Protocol

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based timelapse live-imaging is a powerful technique for studying the genetic regulation of dynamic processes such as tissue morphogenesis, cell-cell adhesion, or cell death. Drosophila embryos expressing GFP are readily imaged using either stereoscopic or confocal microscopy. A goal of any live-imaging protocol is to minimize detrimental effects such as dehydration and hypoxia. Previous protocols for preparing Drosophila embryos for live-imaging analysis have involved placing dechorionated embryos in halocarbon oil and sandwiching them between a halocarbon gas-permeable membrane and a coverslip1-3. The introduction of compression through mounting embryos in this manner represents an undesirable complication for any biomechanical-based analysis of morphogenesis. Our method, which we call the hanging drop protocol, results in excellent viability of embryos during live imaging and does not require that embryos be compressed. Briefly, the hanging drop protocol involves the placement of embryos in a drop of halocarbon oil that is suspended from a coverslip, which is, in turn, fixed in position over a humid chamber. In addition to providing gas exchange and preventing dehydration, this arrangement takes advantage of the buoyancy of embryos in halocarbon oil to prevent them from drifting out of position during timelapse acquisition. This video describes in detail how to collect and prepare Drosophila embryos for live imaging using the hanging drop protocol. This protocol is suitable for imaging dechorionated embryos using stereomicroscopy or any upright compound fluorescence microscope.

The Preparation of Drosophila Embryos for Live-Imaging Using the Hanging Drop Protocol

A simple, inexpensive, and effective method of preparing Drosophila embryos for live-imaging analysis is presented. Our protocol provides humidity and gas exchange and does not compress the Drosophila embryo. This method is suitable for GFP-based live imaging of Drosophila embryos using a stereomicroscope or upright compound microscope.

La preparación de los Drosophila Los embriones para Live-Imaging utilizando el protocolo de gota

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based timelapse live-imaging is a powerful technique for studying the genetic regulation of dynamic processes such as ...

Preparation of Aplysia Sensory-motor Neuronal Cell Cultures

The nervous system of the marine mollusk Aplysia californica is relatively simple, consisting of approximately 20,000 neurons. The neurons are large (up to 1 mm in diameter) and identifiable, with distinct sizes, shapes, positions and pigmentations, and the cell bodies are externally exposed in five paired ganglia distributed throughout the body of the animal. These properties have allowed investigators to delineate the circuitry underlying specific behaviors in the animal1. The monosynaptic connection between sensory and motor neurons is a central component of the gill-withdrawal reflex in the animal, a simple defensive reflex in which the animal withdraws its gill in response to tactile stimulation of the siphon. This reflex undergoes forms of non-associative and associative learning, including sensitization, habituation and classical conditioning. Of particular benefit to the study of synaptic plasticity, the sensory-motor synapse can be reconstituted in culture, where well-characterized stimuli elicit forms of plasticity that have direct correlates in the behavior of the animal2,3. Specifically, application of serotonin produces a synaptic strengthening that, depending on the application protocol, lasts for minutes (short-term facilitation), hours (intermediate-term facilitation) or days (long-term facilitation). In contrast, application of the peptide transmitter FMRFamide produces a synaptic weakening or depression that, depending on the application protocol, can last from minutes to days (long-term depression). The large size of the neurons allows for repeated sharp electrode recording of synaptic strength over periods of days together with microinjection of expression vectors, siRNAs and other compounds to target specific signaling cascades and molecules and thereby identify the molecular and cell biological steps that underlie the changes in synaptic efficacy.
An additional advantage of the Aplysia culture system comes from the fact that the neurons demonstrate synapse-specificity in culture4,5. Thus, sensory neurons do not form synapses with themselves (autapses) or with other sensory neurons, nor do they form synapses with non-target identified motor neurons in culture. The varicosities, sites of synaptic contact between sensory and motor neurons, are large enough (2-7 microns in diameter) to allow synapse formation (as well as changes in synaptic morphology) with target motor neurons to be studied at the light microscopic level.
In this video, we demonstrate each step of preparing sensory-motor neuron cultures, including anesthetizing adult and juvenile Aplysia, dissecting their ganglia, protease digestion of the ganglia, removal of the connective tissue by microdissection, identification of both sensory and motor neurons and removal of each cell type by microdissection, plating of the motor neuron, addition of the sensory neuron and manipulation of the sensory neurite to form contact with the cultured motor neuron.

Preparation of Aplysia Sensory-motor Neuronal Cell Cultures

Primary cultures of Aplysia sensory-motor neurons provide a model preparation for studying synapse formation and synaptic plasticity in vitro. This video demonstrates the identification and microdissection of sensory and motor neurons from Aplysia ganglia as well as the methods for establishing and maintaining sensory-motor neurons in culture.

Preparación de Aplysia Sensorio-motor culturas de células neuronales

The nervous system of the marine mollusk Aplysia californica is relatively simple, consisting of approximately 20,000 neurons.  The neurons are large (up ...

Preparation of embryos for Electron Microscopy of the Drosophila embryonic heart tube

The morphogenesis of the Drosophila embryonic heart tube has emerged as a valuable model system for studying cell migration, cell-cell adhesion and cell shape changes during embryonic development. One of the challenges faced in studying this structure is that the lumen of the heart tube, as well as the membrane features that are crucial to heart tube formation, are difficult to visualize in whole mount embryos, due to the small size of the heart tube and intra-lumenal space relative to the embryo. The use of transmission electron microscopy allows for higher magnification of these structures and gives the advantage of examining the embryos in cross section, which easily reveals the size and shape of the lumen. In this video, we detail the process for reliable fixation, embedding, and sectioning of late stage Drosophila embryos in order to visualize the heart tube lumen as well as important cellular structures including cell-cell junctions and the basement membrane.

Preparation of embryos for Electron Microscopy of the Drosophila embryonic heart tube

We describe a process for fixation, embedding, sectioning, and imaging of late stage Drosophila embryos for Trasmission Electron Microscopy of the embryonic heart tube. This technique allows for the visualization of the heart tube lumen as well as the basement membrane, which lines the lumen of the heart.

Preparación de embriones para Microscopía Electrónica de la Drosophila Tubo cardíaco embrionario

The morphogenesis of the Drosophila  embryonic heart tube has emerged as a valuable model system for studying cell migration, cell-cell adhesion and cell ...

In-vivo Centrifugation of Drosophila Embryos

A major strategy for purifying and isolating different types of intracellular organelles is to separate them from each other based on differences in buoyant density. However, when cells are disrupted prior to centrifugation, proteins and organelles in this non-native environment often inappropriately stick to each other. Here we describe a method to separate organelles by density in intact, living Drosophila embryos. Early embryos before cellularization are harvested from population cages, and their outer egg shells are removed by treatment with 50% bleach. Embryos are then transferred to a small agar plate and inserted, posterior end first, into small vertical holes in the agar. The plates containing embedded embryos are centrifuged for 30 min at 3000g. The agar supports the embryos and keeps them in a defined orientation. Afterwards, the embryos are dug out of the agar with a blunt needle. Centrifugation separates major organelles into distinct layers, a stratification easily visible by bright-field microscopy. A number of fluorescent markers are available to confirm successful stratification in living embryos. Proteins associated with certain organelles will be enriched in a particular layer, demonstrating colocalization. Individual layers can be recovered for biochemical analysis or transplantation into donor eggs. This technique is applicable for organelle separation in other large cells, including the eggs and oocytes of diverse species.

In-vivo Centrifugation of Drosophila Embryos

We describe a method to separate organelles by density in living Drosophila embryos. Embryos are embedded in agar and centrifuged. This technique yields reproducible separation of major organelles along the anterior-posterior embryo axis. This method facilitates colocalization experiments and yields organelle fractions for biochemical analysis and transplantation experiments.

En vivo-La centrifugación de embriones de Drosophila

A major strategy for purifying and isolating different types of intracellular organelles is to separate them from each other based on differences in ...

Upright Imaging of Drosophila Embryos

Several well-known morphogenetic gradients and cellular movements occur along the dorsal/ventral axis of the Drosophila embryo. However, the current techniques used to view such processes are somewhat limited. The following protocol describes a new technique for mounting fixed and labeled Drosophila embryos for coronal viewing with confocal imaging. This method consists of embedding embryos between two layers of glycerin jelly mounting media, and imaging jelly strips positioned upright. The first step for sandwiching the embryos is to make a thin bedding of glycerin jelly on a slide. Next, embryos are carefully aligned on this surface and covered with a second layer of jelly. After the second layer is solidified, strips of jelly are cut and flipped upright for imaging. Alternatives are described for visualizing the embryos depending upon the type of microscope stand to be used. Since all cells along the dorsal-ventral axis are imaged within a single confocal Z-plane, our method allows precise measurement and comparison of fluorescent signals without photobleaching or light scattering common to 3D reconstructions of longitudinally mounted embryos.

Upright Imaging of Drosophila Embryos

Here we present a mounting protocol for stained Drosophila embryos in an upright position that allows imaging of cross-sections using Confocal microscopy.

Imagen de la posición vertical Drosophila Los embriones

Several well-known morphogenetic gradients and cellular movements occur along the dorsal/ventral axis of the Drosophila embryo. However, the current ...

Primary Cell Cultures from Drosophila Gastrula Embryos

Here we describe a method for preparing and culturing primary cells dissociated from Drosophila gastrula embryos. In brief, a large amount of staged embryos from young and healthy flies are collected, sterilized, and then physically dissociated into a single cell suspension using a glass homogenizer. After being plated on culture plates or chamber slides at an appropriate density in culture medium, these cells can further differentiate into several morphologically-distinct cell types, which can be identified by their specific cell markers. Furthermore, we present conditions for treating these cells with double stranded (ds) RNAs to elicit gene knockdown. Efficient RNAi in Drosophila primary cells is accomplished by simply bathing the cells in dsRNA-containing culture medium. The ability to carry out effective RNAi perturbation, together with other molecular, biochemical, cell imaging analyses, will allow a variety of questions to be answered in Drosophila primary cells, especially those related to differentiated muscle and neuronal cells.

Primary Cell Cultures from Drosophila Gastrula Embryos

We provide a detailed protocol for preparing primary cells dissociated from Drosophila embryos. The ability to carry out the effective RNAi perturbation, together with other molecular, biochemical and cell imaging methods will allow a variety of questions to be addressed in Drosophila primary cells.

Cultivos de células primarias de Drosophila Gástrula embriones

Here we describe a method for preparing and culturing primary cells dissociated from Drosophila gastrula embryos.   In brief, a large amount of staged ...