Nos gustaría dar las gracias a Donald Ready y Kevin Moisés para enseñar JPK el procedimiento de disección disco imaginal originales. También queremos agradecer a Bonnie Weasner para el disco genital en la Figura 1B y el ojo de disco en la Figura 2A, Brandon Weasner para la Figura 3, el Stock Center Bloomington Drosophila para las manchas de moscas y el Banco hibridoma Estudios del Desarrollo de anticuerpos. CMS ha sido apoyado por una beca de los Institutos Nacionales de Salud (NIH) GCMS Training Grant (T32-GM007757), el Frank W. Putnam Becas de Investigación, y el Robert Briggs Beca de Investigación. JPK es apoyado por una subvención del Instituto Nacional del Ojo (R01 EY014863)

1 Preparación de larvas <ol><li> Llene un 35 mm placa de Petri con tampón de disección. </li><li> Coloque las larvas en placa de Petri y les permiten nadar alrededor durante unos minutos (paso de auto-limpieza). </li><li> Transferencia de las larvas a una piscina de tampón de disección en una placa de disección a base de silicona. Esta piscina debe estar en un borde de la placa. La placa de disección consiste en una solución de silicona que ha sido vertido y endurecido dentro de una placa de Petri de vidrio. </li><li> Usando una pipeta pasteur-, colocar un mayor número de tampón de disección en el medio de la placa de disección. </li><li> Utilizando # 5 pinzas, transferir una sola larva limpiado desde la pequeña piscina de la piscina más grande de tampón de disección. </li></ol> 2. Grueso Disección de larvas <ol><li> Mientras que la larva está todavía dentro de la gran piscina de búfer disección estrechar la larva con las pinzas. Un par de fórceps se debe utilizar para agarrar los ganchos de la boca mientras que el otro par de pinzas se utiliza para mantener la animal todavía (agarrar la larva suavemente a un tercio la longitud del cuerpo). </li><li> Mantener estable el par de pinzas que contienen la cutícula cerca de los ganchos de la boca mientras se tira rápidamente el resto del cuerpo de distancia con el segundo par de pinzas. </li><li> Cuando la larva comienza a desgarrar usted se sentirá una leve liberación de la tensión. Suelte la larva de las pinzas y permitir las &quot;entrañas&quot; de la larva a derramarse. Esto permite que los discos imaginales a permanecer en su conformación normal y les impide que se deforme. </li><li> Con un par de pinzas agarrar los ganchos de la boca de nuevo para sujetar el extremo frontal de la larva en su lugar. Usando el otro par de fórceps extirpar la sección inferior 2/3 de las larvas incluyendo las agallas interiores. Nota: un complejo que contiene los ganchos de la boca, los discos de ojos antenal, hemisferios cerebrales, ganglio ventral, las glándulas salivales, algunos discos de la pierna, y la cutícula que recubre permanecerán. </li><li> Con un par de pinzas eliminar suavemente la cutícula suprayacente, glándulas salivales, los discos y las piernasotro tejido. Nota: sólo el tejido que debe permanecer es los ganchos de la boca, los discos de ojos antenal, hemisferios cerebrales, y el ganglio ventral (Figura 3). </li><li> Repita los pasos 2.1 a 2.5 con larvas adicional durante 15-20 min. Nota: Los discos imaginales que permanecen en tampón de disección durante períodos de tiempo más largos tienden a degradarse y, finalmente, aparecen como menos de ejemplares ideales para ser fotografiados. Así, después de un máximo de 20 min todos los tejidos disecados deben ser transferidos a la fijador PLP (ver más abajo). </li></ol> 3. fijación y la tinción de tejido con anticuerpos <ol><li> El uso de un Pipetman P-200, transfiera los tejidos disecados a un vidrio de reloj que contiene frío paraformaldehído-lisina-Periodato (PLP) fijador. Límite de volumen de tampón de disección transferido a 50 l para minimizar la dilución de PLP. Asegúrese de cortar la punta con una cuchilla de afeitar de manera que la abertura de la punta es lo suficientemente grande para dar cabida a los tejidos disecados. Con un par de pinzas ouna aguja de tungsteno asegurar que los tejidos disecados están completamente sumergidos en orden para la fijación adecuada que se produzca. Incubar los tejidos disecados en fijador PLP frío durante 45 min. Esta incubación puede tener lugar a temperatura ambiente sin agitación. </li><li> El uso de un Pipetman P-200, transferir los tejidos disecados a tampón de lavado (RT) utilizando otra punta amarilla cortar durante 45 min. Límite de volumen PLP transferido a 50 l para reducir al mínimo la dilución del tampón de lavado. Nota: todos los tejidos disecados deben estar totalmente sumergidos. </li><li> Transferencia de 20-30 conjuntos de tejido diseccionado a 1,5 ml tubo de microcentrífuga. Nota: si los números más grandes de los complejos de disco de ojo de antenal se combinan dentro del tubo, hay una posibilidad de que el tejido en la parte inferior del tubo no quedará correctamente expuesto a los anticuerpos. Para obtener resultados óptimos no más de 20-30 complejos de disco antenal oculares deben estar presentes dentro de un único tubo. El tejido diseccionado se depositan en el fondo del tubo de microcentrífuga. Pasos Por lo tanto, en posteriores use una Pipetman de quitar y reemplazar el tampón de lavado, solución de bloqueo, y los anticuerpos. </li><li> Retire tampón de lavado y reemplazar con 100 l de solución de bloqueo: 10% de suero normal de cabra en tampón de lavado. Incubar a temperatura ambiente con rotación suave en una parte superior de los rotadores mesa para 10 min. </li><li> Eliminar la solución de bloqueo y reemplazar con 100 l de anticuerpos primarios que se han diluido apropiadamente en 10% de suero normal de cabra. Incubar a temperatura ambiente con rotación suave durante 16 horas. </li><li> Retire anticuerpos primarios y reemplazar con 750 l de tampón de lavado. Colocar los tubos en un nutator y permitir a nutate a TA durante 10 min. Nota: El anticuerpo primario se puede guardar (almacenar a 4 ° C) y volver a utilizar más adelante. La reutilización de anticuerpos múltiples veces puede ayudar en la reducción de la unión no específica. </li><li> Permitir cabezas a asentarse en el fondo del tubo, a continuación, eliminar el tampón de lavado y se añaden 100 l de anticuerpos secundarios que han sido diluidos apropiadamente en 10% de suero normal. Incubar a temperatura ambiente con rotación suave para 2̵1; 4 hr. </li><li> Retire soluciones de anticuerpos secundarios de tejidos y reemplazar con 500 l de tampón de lavado. Permitir que el tejido se depositan en el fondo del tubo. </li><li> El uso de un P-200 y una punta amarilla corte, transferir todos los tejidos disecados a una piscina de tampón de lavado que se ha colocado en el plato de disección. Mientras que proceder con el siguiente paso de la disección fina, el tejido se incuba en el tampón de lavado. Esto ayuda a eliminar el exceso de anticuerpos secundarios. </li></ol> 4. Fine Disección de Eye-antenal discos Complejos y montaje en portaobjetos <ol><li> Utilice un par de fórceps para estrechar la cutícula por los ganchos de la boca con el lado ventral del complejo hacia abajo. Con un segundo par de pinzas quitar los dos lóbulos cerebrales mediante el cierre de los segundos fórceps en el espacio entre los discos del cerebro y del ojo (Figura 3, flecha roja) y rápidamente tirando del cerebro lejos de los ganchos de la boca. </li><li> Sin dejar de aferrarse a los ganchos de la boca, pellizcarel tejido lo más cerca posible a la conexión entre la sección de antenal del disco de ojos antenal y los ganchos de la boca (Figura 3, flecha azul). Nota: los complejos de disco antenal ojos deben estar libres de todo el tejido (Figura 1A). Continúe hasta que todo el tejido deseado deseada que puede ser colocado en portaobjetos ha sido diseccionado. Este protocolo se puede adaptar para aislar ala, haltere, la pierna y discos imaginales genitales (Figura 1B-E). </li><li> Añadir dos pequeños trozos de papel de seda (tamaño del cubreobjetos) aproximadamente 3 pulg. De distancia en el plato de disección. Coloque una lámina de vidrio sobre el plato - los dos trozos de papel de seda deben estar bajo los términos de la diapositiva. Esto evitará que la corredera se pegue a la base de silicona del plato de disección. </li><li> El uso de un P-20 con una punta sin cortar, añadir 9 l de un agente anti-blanqueamiento a la mitad del portaobjetos de microscopio de vidrio. Esto evita la decoloración de los tejidos cuando se ve con fluorescenteluz. </li><li> Usando la misma punta sin cortar, recoger todos los discos de ojos antenal y añadirlos a la gota de reactivo anti-blanqueo. Minimizar la cantidad de tampón de lavado que se lleva sobre. Trate de limitar la cantidad de tampón de lavado a 10 l o menos. </li><li> Use un par de pinzas para separar y extender los discos de ojos antenal dentro de la gota de reactivo anti-blanqueo. Permitir que los discos se incuben en el reactivo anti-blanqueo por varios minutos. Nota: Los discos se volverán claros como el tejido absorbe el reactivo anti-blanqueo. </li><li> El uso de un pincel fino baje suavemente un cubreobjetos sobre la muestra. Esto evita la formación de burbujas de aire. </li><li> Tienda desliza a -20 ° C hasta el momento de ver los discos imaginales ojo-antenales u otros que utilizan la luz o microscopía de fluorescencia. </li></ol>

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The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Aunque este procedimiento se ha centrado en gran medida en el aislamiento y el tratamiento posterior de los discos de ojo de antenal, es susceptible de ser utilizado para aislar y analizar el ala, haltere, la pierna y discos genitales (Figura 4). La única modificación necesaria del protocolo para el aislamiento de estos discos (en comparación con el disco de ojos antenal) es el método de disección gruesa (sección 2 del protocolo). El primer tramo (T1) par torácica se encuentra en la parte anterio...

Durante más de un siglo la mosca de la fruta, Drosophila melanogaster, ha sido un sistema principal para estudiar el desarrollo, comportamiento y fisiología. Desarrollo en la mosca se puede dividir en dos grandes etapas: embrionarias y post-embrionarias con gran parte de la toma lugar dentro de este último epitelios monocapa llamadas discos imaginales 1-3. Dibujos de los discos imaginales se publicaron por primera vez en 1864 por August Weismann como parte de su amplia monografía sobre el desarrollo del insecto 1. Estos discos comienzan su desarrollo durante la embriogénesis, se modelan durante las etapas larvales, sobrevivir a la histolysis masiva de las primeras etapas de pupa, y en última instancia, dar lugar a un alto porcentaje de estructuras adultas que se encuentran dentro de la mosca adulta 1-14. Durante el desarrollo larvario cada disco hace varias decisiones críticas con respecto a la suerte, forma y tamaño. Dentro de la primera y segunda etapas larvales, los discos tienen la tarea de adoptar un destino primario, establisHing límites de compartimento, la adopción de la forma correcta y generar el número necesario de células 15-16. Durante el tercer estadio larval y la etapa pre-pupa temprano, los discos imaginales continúan dividiéndose y se modelan como células adoptan sus destinos terminales 16. Durante la historia temprana de la biología del desarrollo de Drosophila, discos imaginales se estudiaron casi exclusivamente en el contexto del desarrollo normal y en los pocos casos en los que una pérdida o mutante de ganancia de función era viable. El uso de rayos X para inducir la recombinación mitótica permitido para las mutaciones letales para ser analizada en clones de células dentro de los tejidos de larvas y adultos. Este método ha sido mejorado por la introducción de métodos transgénicos para analizar la pérdida y ganancia de función de las mutaciones en ambos tejidos de larvas y adultos. El número de anticuerpos, reporteros transcripcionales y trampas de proteína para describir el paisaje molecular de tipo salvaje y mutantes tejidos es también constndo RT crecimiento. El uso de estos marcadores moleculares para analizar la pérdida y ganancia de función de clones de células mutante ha hecho cada vez más factible obtener una comprensión en tiempo real de cómo las células mutantes se desvían de sus primos de tipo salvaje durante el desarrollo. Para aprovechar adecuadamente estas herramientas y reactivos que es fundamental contar con los preparativos de la alta calidad de los discos imaginales que se pueden ver, fotografiados y analizados. El objetivo de este manuscrito es proporcionar un protocolo optimizado para el aislamiento y la preparación del complejo de disco ojo antenal (Figura 1A). También puede ser utilizado con éxito para aislar una amplia variedad de discos adicionales, incluyendo los que dan lugar a las alas, haleteres, piernas T1-T3 y los genitales (Figura 1B-E). Este procedimiento, con modificaciones menores, se ha utilizado para aislar los discos imaginales de Drosophila durante casi ochenta años. Como se describió anteriormente, ya que la mayoría de los genes se expresan durante multiple etapas de desarrollo y en una multitud de tejidos, a menudo es imposible estudiar los efectos que tienen los mutantes nulos en todo el ojo como el animal muere mucho antes de la etapa de larva de tercer instar. Cuatro métodos han hecho el estudio de los tejidos más desarrollados, como la retina significativamente más manejable. El primero es el método flipasa (FLP) / flipasa Recombinación Target (FRT) de generar clones de células mutantes dentro de un tipo de tejido de otro modo salvaje 17-19. En este caso, el tejido mutante se identifica por la ausencia de un marcador visual tal como la proteína fluorescente verde (GFP) y puede ser comparado con el tejido circundante de tipo salvaje en la que está presente GFP (Figura 2D). El segundo es el método &quot;flp-out&quot; en el que un transgén se expresa en una población de células 20. En este caso, los clones de células se identifican por la presencia de GFP y se compararon con el tejido circundante de tipo salvaje que carece del reportero GFP (Figura2E). El tercero es el Análisis Mosaico con una técnica de marcador celular reprimible (MARCM), que combina elementos de los sistemas de expresión de FLP-Salida 21 clon mutante FLP / FRT y. Con este método un transgén puede ser expresado dentro de una población de células que son simultáneamente mutante para un locus genético individual. Como clones flp-out, MARCM clones se identifican por la presencia de GFP y se comparan con el tejido circundante de tipo salvaje que carece del marcador de GFP (Figura 2F). Y por último, los genes y las construcciones de ARNi se pueden expresar dentro de los tejidos imaginales bajo el control de constructos específicos promotor GAL4. Estos cuatro métodos han aumentado el interés en el estudio de los discos imaginales desde clones mutantes o patrones o sobre-expresión se pueden comparar directamente con los tejidos de tipo natural adyacente. El método descrito en este procedimiento ha sido desarrollado para que los investigadores que estudian el desarrollo post-embrionario de los tejidos adultos en Drosophila,especialmente las derivadas de la disco-ojo antenal, podrán obtener tejido de alta calidad para el análisis. Aunque los investigadores individuales han hecho ligeras modificaciones, el núcleo de este procedimiento (que se describe aquí) se ha mantenido prácticamente inalterada. Desde la obtención de tejido de alta calidad es fundamental para el estudio de los discos imaginales Esperamos que este protocolo escrito y video que acompaña servirán como recurso didáctico valioso.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="915">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:229px;">Name of Material/Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:360px;">Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sylgard 184 Silicone Elastomer Kit</td>
			<td>Dow Corning</td>
			<td>184 SIL ELAST KIT 0.5KG</td>
			<td>Used to create base for dissection plate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Pryex Glass Petri Dish 150x20mm</td>
			<td>Dow Corning</td>
			<td>3160-152CO</td>
			<td>Use the cover for dissection plate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">#5 Dissecting Forceps</td>
			<td>Ted Pella</td>
			<td>525</td>
			<td>Forceps must be kept very sharp</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">9 well watch glass</td>
			<td>Vairous Vendors</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used for fixation of imaginal disc complexes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">50ml Erlenmeyer Flask</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Small Stir Bar</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Small enough to fit into Erlenmeyer Flask</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">50ml Conical Tubes</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">1.5ml Microfuge Tubes</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Clear or Dark depending upon application</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Microfuge Rack</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Benchtop Rotator</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>100ul volume should not splatter at low setting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Macron Chemicals</td>
			<td>2-26555-1</td>
			<td>Serves as fixative</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium Phosphate Monobasic</td>
			<td>Sigma Chemical Co</td>
			<td>S-3139</td>
			<td>Used to make dissection and wash buffers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium Phosphate Dibasic</td>
			<td>Sigma Chemical Co</td>
			<td>71636</td>
			<td>Used to make dissection and wash buffers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Lysine</td>
			<td>Acros Organics</td>
			<td>125221000</td>
			<td>Used in the fixative solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium Periodate</td>
			<td>Sigma Chemical Co</td>
			<td>S-1878</td>
			<td>Used in the fixative solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Triton X-100</td>
			<td>EMD Chemicals</td>
			<td>MTX1568-1</td>
			<td>Used to perforate imaginal discs</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium Hydroxide</td>
			<td>EM Science</td>
			<td>SX0593-3</td>
			<td>Used to dissolve paraformaldehyde</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">100% Normal Goat Serum`</td>
			<td>Jackson Laboratories</td>
			<td>005-000-121</td>
			<td>Serves as a blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Primary Antibodies</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Dilute in 10% goat serum as directed by manufacturer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Seondary Antibodies</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Dilute in 10% goat serum as directed by manufacturer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Vectashield</td>
			<td>Molecular Probes</td>
			<td>H-1000</td>
			<td>Prevents bleaching of samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Microscope Slides</td>
			<td>Fischer Scientific</td>
			<td>48312-003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glass Cover Slips 18x18mm</td>
			<td>Fischer Scientific</td>
			<td>12-542A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Kimwipe Tissue</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Prevents Glass slides from adhering to silicone base</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Panit Brush 000</td>
			<td>Various Vendors</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Use to gently lower coverslip on to samples</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

dissection and immunostaining of imaginal discs from drosophila melanogaster

Una parte importante del desarrollo post-embrionario en la mosca de la fruta, Drosophila melanogaster, se lleva a cabo dentro de un conjunto de estructuras en forma de saco llamadas discos imaginales. Estos discos dan lugar a un alto porcentaje de estructuras adultas que se encuentran dentro de la mosca adulta. Aquí se describe un protocolo que ha sido optimizada para recuperar estos discos y prepararlos para el análisis con anticuerpos, marcadores transcripcionales y trampas de proteína. Este procedimiento es el más adecuado para los tejidos finos como los discos imaginales, pero se puede modificar fácilmente para su uso con tejidos más gruesos, como el cerebro y el adulto ovario larval. El protocolo escrito y video que acompaña guiarán el lector / espectador a través de la disección de las larvas de tercer estadio, la fijación de tejido, y el tratamiento de los discos imaginales con anticuerpos. El protocolo se puede utilizar para diseccionar discos imaginales de larvas jóvenes primero y segundo instar también. La ventaja de este protocolo es que es relativamente corto y tiene seres optimizado para la preservación de la alta calidad del tejido diseccionado. Otra ventaja es que el procedimiento de fijación que se emplea funciona bien con el abrumador número de anticuerpos que reconocen proteínas de Drosophila. En nuestra experiencia, hay un número muy pequeño de anticuerpos sensibles que no funcionan bien con este procedimiento. En estas situaciones, el remedio parece ser el uso de un cóctel de fijación alternativo sin dejar de seguir las pautas que hemos establecidos para los pasos de disección e incubaciones de anticuerpos.

El método que se ha descrito anteriormente de forma fiable produce material de alta calidad para el análisis con sondas in situ, reporteros transcripcionales, trampas de proteínas y anticuerpos. En la Figura 1 mostramos ojo-antena, genitales, ala, haltera y piernas discos que se recuperan de forma rutinaria con este método. Estos discos han sido tratados con un fluoróforo-faloidina conjugada, que se une a la actina F y por lo tanto describe cada célula. Si el tejido ha sido fijado correct...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Dissection and Immunostaining of Imaginal Discs from Drosophila melanogaster at JoVE.com

Dissection and Immunostaining of Imaginal Discs from Drosophila melanogaster

The adult structures of Drosophila are derived from sac-like structures called imaginal discs. Analysis of these discs provides insight into many developmental processes including tissue determination, compartment boundary establishment, cell proliferation, cell fate specification, and planar cell polarity. This protocol is used to prepare imaginal discs for light/fluorescent microscopy.

La disección y la inmunotinción de imaginal discos de<em&gt; Drosophila melanogaster</em

A significant portion of post-embryonic development in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, takes place within a set of sac-like structures called ...

dissection-immunostaining-imaginal-discs-from-drosophila

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Dissection and Immunostaining of Imaginal Discs from Drosophila melanogaster

26.3K vistas.  Indiana University. The adult structures of Drosophila are derived from sac-like structures called imaginal discs. Analysis of these discs provides insight into many developmental processes including tissue determination, compartment boundary establishment, cell proliferation, cell fate specification, and planar cell polarity. This protocol is used to prepare imaginal discs for light/fluorescent microscopy.

Video: Dissection and Immunostaining of Imaginal Discs from Drosophila melanogaster

Dissection of Larval CNS in Drosophila Melanogaster

The central nervous system (CNS) of Drosophila larvae is complex and poorly understood.  One way to investigate the CNS is to use immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of various novel and marker proteins.  Staining of whole larvae is impractical because the tough cuticle prevents antibodies from penetrating inside the body cavity.  In order to stain these tissues it is necessary to dissect the animal prior to fixing and staining.  In this article we demonstrate how to dissect Drosophila larvae without damaging the CNS.  Begin by tearing the larva in half with a pair of fine forceps, and then turn the cuticle "inside-out" to expose the CNS.  If the dissection is performed carefully the CNS will remain attached to the cuticle.  We usually keep the CNS attached to the cuticle throughout the fixation and staining steps, and only completely remove the CNS from the cuticle just prior to mounting the samples on glass slides.  We also show some representative images of a larval CNS stained with Eve, a transcription factor expressed in a subset of neurons in the CNS.  The article concludes with a discussion of some of the practical uses of this technique and the potential difficulties that may arise.

In this article we demonstrate how to dissect the central nervous system from third instar Drosophila larvae.

La disección del sistema nervioso central de larvas de Drosophila melanogaster

The central nervous system (CNS) of Drosophila larvae is complex and poorly understood.  One way to investigate the CNS is to use immunohistochemistry to ...

Investigación

Biología

Dissection of Imaginal Discs from 3rd Instar Drosophila Larvae

This protocol demonstrates the dissection technique used for isolating imaginal discs from drosophila larvae at the 3rd instar stage. Methods for fixing the tissue after saying and removing the wing, leg, and eye discs are demonstrated directly on a microscope slide for subsequent visualization.

La disección de los discos imaginales de 3er estadio las larvas de Drosophila

Drosophila Larval NMJ Dissection

The Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is an established model system used for the study of synaptic development and plasticity. The widespread use of the Drosophila motor system is due to its high accessibility. It can be analyzed with single-cell resolution. There are 30 muscles per hemisegment whose arrangement within the peripheral body wall are known. A total of 35 motor neurons attach to these muscles in a pattern that has high fidelity. Using molecular biology and genetics, one can create transgenic animals or mutants. Then, one can study the developmental consequences on the morphology and function of the NMJ. In order to access the NMJ for study, it is necessary to carefully dissect each larva. In this article we demonstrate how to properly dissect Drosophila larvae for study of the NMJ by removing all internal organs while leaving the body wall intact. This technique is suitable to prepare larvae for imaging, immunohistochemistry, or electrophysiology.

This protocol demonstrates how to dissect Drosophila larvae in preparation for immunohistochemistry and/or imaging of the neuromuscular junction.

Drosophila larval NMJ Disección

The Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is an established model system used for the study of synaptic development and plasticity. The widespread use ...

Live Imaging of Glial Cell Migration in the Drosophila Eye Imaginal Disc

Glial cells of both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms must migrate to final target regions in order to ensheath and support associated neurons. While recent progress has been made to describe the live migration of glial cells in the developing pupal wing (1), studies of Drosophila glial cell migration have typically involved the examination of fixed tissue. Live microscopic analysis of motile cells offers the ability to examine cellular behavior throughout the migratory process, including determining the rate of and changes in direction of growth. Paired with use of genetic tools, live imaging can be used to determine more precise roles for specific genes in the process of development. Previous work by Silies et al. (2) has described the migration of glia originating from the optic stalk, a structure that connects the developing eye and brain, into the eye imaginal disc in fixed tissue. Here we outline a protocol for examining the live migration of glial cells into the Drosophila eye imaginal disc. We take advantage of a Drosophila line that expresses GFP in developing glia to follow glial cell progression in wild type and in mutant animals.

Here we describe a protocol to examine the migration of glial cells into the developing Drosophila eye using live microscopic analysis paired with GFP tagged glial cells.

Imágenes en directo de la migración de células gliales en el ojo del disco imaginal de Drosophila

Glial cells of both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms must migrate to final target regions in order to ensheath and support associated neurons.  While ...

Live Imaging Of Drosophila melanogaster Embryonic Hemocyte Migrations

Many studies address cell migration using in vitro methods, whereas the physiologically relevant environment is that of the organism itself. Here we present a protocol for the mounting of Drosophila melanogaster embryos and subsequent live imaging of fluorescently labeled hemocytes, the embryonic macrophages of this organism. Using the Gal4-uas system1 we drive the expression of a variety of genetically encoded, fluorescently tagged markers in hemocytes to follow their developmental dispersal throughout the embryo. Following collection of embryos at the desired stage of development, the outer chorion is removed and the embryos are then mounted in halocarbon oil between a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane and a glass coverslip for live imaging. In addition to gross migratory parameters such as speed and directionality, higher resolution imaging coupled with the use of fluorescent reporters of F-actin and microtubules can provide more detailed information concerning the dynamics of these cytoskeletal components.

Live Imaging Of Drosophila melanogaster Embryonic Hemocyte Migrations

Drosophila hemocytes disperse over the entirety of the developing embryo. This protocol demonstrates how to mount and image these migrations using embryos with fluorescently labelled hemocytes.

Imágenes en directo de Drosophila melanogaster Migraciones hemocitos embrionarias

Many studies address cell migration using in vitro methods, whereas the physiologically relevant environment is that of the organism itself. Here we ...

Dissection of Oenocytes from Adult Drosophila melanogaster

In Drosophila melanogaster, as in other insects, a waxy layer on the outer surface of the cuticle, composed primarily of hydrocarbon compounds, provides protection against desiccation and other environmental challenges. Several of these cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) compounds also function as semiochemical signals, and as such mediate pheromonal communications between members of the same species, or in some instances between different species, and influence behavior. Specialized cells referred to as oenocytes are regarded as the primary site for CHC synthesis. However, relatively little is known regarding the involvement of the oenocytes in the regulation of the biosynthetic, transport, and deposition pathways contributing to CHC output. Given the significant role that CHCs play in several aspects of insect biology, including chemical communication, desiccation resistance, and immunity, it is important to gain a greater understanding of the molecular and genetic regulation of CHC production within these specialized cells. The adult oenocytes of D. melanogaster are located within the abdominal integument, and are metamerically arrayed in ribbon-like clusters radiating along the inner cuticular surface of each abdominal segment. In this video article we demonstrate a dissection technique used for the preparation of oenocytes from adult D. melanogaster. Specifically, we provide a detailed step-by-step demonstration of (1) how to fillet prepare an adult Drosophila abdomen, (2) how to identify the oenocytes and discern them from other tissues, and (3) how to remove intact oenocyte clusters from the abdominal integument. A brief experimental illustration of how this preparation can be used to examine the expression of genes involved in hydrocarbon synthesis is included. The dissected preparation demonstrated herein will allow for the detailed molecular and genetic analysis of oenocyte function in the adult fruit fly.

Dissection of Oenocytes from Adult Drosophila melanogaster

In insects, the oenocytes produce cuticular hydrocarbon compounds. These compounds protect against desiccation and facilitate chemical communication. Here we demonstrate a dissection technique used to isolate the oenocytes from adult Drosophila melanogaster, and illustrate how this preparation can be utilized to study genes involved in hydrocarbon synthesis.

La disección de Oenocytes de Adultos Drosophila melanogaster</em

In Drosophila melanogaster, as in other insects, a waxy layer on the outer surface of the cuticle, composed primarily of hydrocarbon compounds, provides ...

Dissection and Staining of Drosophila Larval Ovaries

Many organs depend on stem cells for their development during embryogenesis and for maintenance or repair during adult life. Understanding how stem cells form, and how they interact with their environment is therefore crucial for understanding development, homeostasis and disease. The ovary of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has served as an influential model for the interaction of germ line stem cells (GSCs) with their somatic support cells (niche) 1, 2. The known location of the niche and the GSCs, coupled to the ability to genetically manipulate them, has allowed researchers to elucidate a variety of interactions between stem cells and their niches 3-12.
Despite the wealth of information about mechanisms controlling GSC maintenance and differentiation, relatively little is known about how GSCs and their somatic niches form during development. About 18 somatic niches, whose cellular components include terminal filament and cap cells (Figure 1), form during the third larval instar 13-17. GSCs originate from primordial germ cells (PGCs). PGCs proliferate at early larval stages, but following the formation of the niche a subgroup of PGCs becomes GSCs 7, 16, 18, 19. Together, the somatic niche cells and the GSCs make a functional unit that produces eggs throughout the lifetime of the organism.
Many questions regarding the formation of the GSC unit remain unanswered. Processes such as coordination between precursor cells for niches and stem cell precursors, or the generation of asymmetry within PGCs as they become GSCs, can best be studied in the larva. However, a methodical study of larval ovary development is physically challenging. First, larval ovaries are small. Even at late larval stages they are only 100&mu;m across. In addition, the ovaries are transparent and are embedded in a white fat body. Here we describe a step-by-step protocol for isolating ovaries from late third instar (LL3) Drosophila larvae, followed by staining with fluorescent antibodies. We offer some technical solutions to problems such as locating the ovaries, staining and washing tissues that do not sink, and making sure that antibodies penetrate into the tissue. This protocol can be applied to earlier larval stages and to larval testes as well.

Dissection and Staining of Drosophila Larval Ovaries

How niches and stem cells form during development is an important question with practical implications. In the Drosophila ovary, germ line stem cells and their somatic niches form during larval development. This video demonstrates how to dissect, stain and mount female gonads from late third instar (LL3) Drosophila larvae.

La disección y la tinción de Drosophila Larvas Ovarios

Many organs depend on stem cells for their development during embryogenesis and for maintenance or repair during adult life. Understanding how stem cells ...

Isolation of Drosophila melanogaster Testes

The testes of Drosophila melanogaster provide an important model for the study of stem cell maintenance and differentiation, meiosis, and soma-germline interactions. Testes are typically isolated from adult males 0-3 days after eclosion from the pupal case. The testes of wild-type flies are easily distinguished from other tissues because they are yellow, but the testes of white mutant flies, a common genetic background for laboratory experiments are similar in both shape and color to the fly gut. Performing dissection on a glass microscope slide with a black background makes identifying the testes considerably easier. Testes are removed from the flies using dissecting needles. Compared to protocols that use forceps for testes dissection, our method is far quicker, allowing a well-practiced individual to dissect testes from 200-300 wild-type flies per hour, yielding 400-600 testes. Testes from white flies or from mutants that reduce testes size are harder to dissect and typically yield 200-400 testes per hour.

Isolation of Drosophila melanogaster Testes

Drosophila melanogaster testes can be rapidly and efficiently isolated from adult males using dissecting needles. With practice, one can readily isolate in one or two days an amount of testes sufficient for the analysis of DNA or RNA by high throughput sequencing or more traditional molecular biology methods or of protein for antibody- or enzyme-based assays.

El aislamiento de Drosophila melanogaster Testículos

The testes of Drosophila melanogaster provide an important model for the study of stem cell maintenance and differentiation, meiosis, and soma-germline ...

Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Aging is a phenomenon that results in steady physiological deterioration in nearly all organisms in which it has been examined, leading to reduced physical performance and increased risk of disease. Individual aging is manifest at the population level as an increase in age-dependent mortality, which is often measured in the laboratory by observing lifespan in large cohorts of age-matched individuals. Experiments that seek to quantify the extent to which genetic or environmental manipulations impact lifespan in simple model organisms have been remarkably successful for understanding the aspects of aging that are conserved across taxa and for inspiring new strategies for extending lifespan and preventing age-associated disease in mammals.
The vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an attractive model organism for studying the mechanisms of aging due to its relatively short lifespan, convenient husbandry, and facile genetics. However, demographic measures of aging, including age-specific survival and mortality, are extraordinarily susceptible to even minor variations in experimental design and environment, and the maintenance of strict laboratory practices for the duration of aging experiments is required. These considerations, together with the need to practice careful control of genetic background, are essential for generating robust measurements. Indeed, there are many notable controversies surrounding inference from longevity experiments in yeast, worms, flies and mice that have been traced to environmental or genetic artifacts1-4. In this protocol, we describe a set of procedures that have been optimized over many years of measuring longevity in Drosophila using laboratory vials. We also describe the use of the dLife software, which was developed by our laboratory and is available for download (<a href="http://sitemaker.umich.edu/pletcherlab/software">http://sitemaker.umich.edu/pletcherlab/software</a>). dLife accelerates throughput and promotes good practices by incorporating optimal experimental design, simplifying fly handling and data collection, and standardizing data analysis. We will also discuss the many potential pitfalls in the design, collection, and interpretation of lifespan data, and we provide steps to avoid these dangers.

Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model organism for exploring the molecular basis of longevity regulation. This protocol will discuss the steps involved in generating a reproducible, population-based measurement of longevity as well as potential pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Medición de la esperanza de vida en<em&gt; Drosophila melanogaster</em

Aging is a phenomenon that results in steady physiological deterioration in nearly all organisms in which it has been examined, leading to reduced ...

Dissection and Mounting of Drosophila Pupal Eye Discs

The Drosophila melanogaster eye disc is a powerful system that can be used to study many different biological processes. It contains approximately 800 separate eye units, termed ommatidia1. Each ommatidium contains eight neuronal photoreceptors that develop from undifferentiated cells following the passage of the morphogenetic furrow in the third larval instar2. Following the sequential differentiation of the photoreceptors, non-neuronal cells develop, including cone and pigment cells, along with mechanosensory bristle cells3. Final differentiation processes, including the structured arrangement of all the ommatidial cell types, programmed cell death of undifferentiated cell types and rhodopsin expression, occurs through the pupal phase4-7. This technique focuses on manipulating the pupal eye disc, providing insight and instruction on how to dissect the eye disc during the pupal phase, which is inherently more difficult to perform than the commonly dissected third instar eye disc. This technique also provides details on immunostaining to allow the visualization of various proteins and other cell components.

Dissection and Mounting of Drosophila Pupal Eye Discs

The goal of this technique is to enable researchers to perform dissection, immunostaining and mounting of pupal eye discs from Drosophila melanogaster of any age.

Disección y montaje de<em&gt; Drosophila</em&gt; Pupal discos Eye

The Drosophila melanogaster eye disc is a powerful system that can be used to study many different biological processes.  It contains approximately 800 ...