IM is supported by the Marie Curie re-integration grant. This work was supported by the Israel Science Fund Grant no. 1146/08, by the Helen and Martin Kimmel Institute for Stem Cell Research at the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Leir Charitable Foundation.

1. Egg laying
<ol>
	<li>Five days before dissection: allow mated females to lay eggs for 2-4 hours on fresh food supplemented with yeast. To get synchronized and well-developed larvae, it is important not to have overcrowded cultured (about 30 eggs/ 25mm vial). Typically, 7-16 females are used per vial, depending on how well they lay.</li>
</ol>
2. Selecting larvae
<ol>
 <li>Prepare a 9-well glass dissecting dish filled with Ringer's medium (128mM NaCl, 2mM Kcl, 1.8mM CaCl2, 4mM...

<ol>
	<li>Fuller, M. T., Spradling, A. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Male+and+female+Drosophila+germline+stem+cells:+two+versions+of+immortality.">Male and female Drosophila germline stem cells: two versions of immortality.</a> Science. 316, 402-404 (2007).</li><li>Li, L., Xie, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stem+cell+niche:+structure+and+function.">Stem cell niche: structure and function.</a> Annual review of cell and developmental biology. 21, 605-631 (2005).</li><li>Chen, D., McKearin, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gene+circuitry+controlling+a+stem+cell+niche.">Gene circuitry controlling a stem cell niche.</a> Curr Biol. 15, 179-184 (2005).</li><li>Kai, T., Spradling, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+empty+Drosophila+stem+cell+niche+reactivates+the+proliferation+of+ectopic+cells.">An empty Drosophila stem cell niche reactivates the proliferation of ectopic cells.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 100, 4633-4638 (2003).</li><li>Kai, T., Spradling, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differentiating+germ+cells+can+revert+into+functional+stem+cells+in+Drosophila+melanogaster+ovaries.">Differentiating germ cells can revert into functional stem cells in Drosophila melanogaster ovaries.</a> Nature. 428, 564-569 (2004).</li><li>Lopez-Onieva, L., Fernandez-Minan, A., Gonzalez-Reyes, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Jak/Stat+signalling+in+niche+support+cells+regulates+dpp+transcription+to+control+germline+stem+cell+maintenance+in+the+Drosophila+ovary.">Jak/Stat signalling in niche support cells regulates dpp transcription to control germline stem cell maintenance in the Drosophila ovary.</a> Development. 135, 533-540 (2008).</li><li>Song, X., Zhu, C. H., Doan, C., Xie, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Germline+stem+cells+anchored+by+adherens+junctions+in+the+Drosophila+ovary+niches.">Germline stem cells anchored by adherens junctions in the Drosophila ovary niches.</a> Science. 296, 1855-1857 (2002).</li><li>Tazuke, S. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+germline-specific+gap+junction+protein+required+for+survival+of+differentiating+early+germ+cells.">A germline-specific gap junction protein required for survival of differentiating early germ cells.</a> Development. 129, 2529-2539 (2002).</li><li>Xie, T., Spradling, A. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=decapentaplegic+is+essential+for+the+maintenance+and+division+of+germline+stem+cells+in+the+Drosophila+ovary.">decapentaplegic is essential for the maintenance and division of germline stem cells in the Drosophila ovary.</a> Cell. 94, 251-260 (1998).</li><li>Xie, T., Spradling, A. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+niche+maintaining+germ+line+stem+cells+in+the+Drosophila+ovary.">A niche maintaining germ line stem cells in the Drosophila ovary.</a> Science. , 290-328 (2000).</li><li>Guo, Z., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+glypican+Dally+is+required+in+the+niche+for+the+maintenance+of+germline+stem+cells+and+short-range+BMP+signaling+in+the+Drosophila+ovary.">The glypican Dally is required in the niche for the maintenance of germline stem cells and short-range BMP signaling in the Drosophila ovary.</a> Development. 136, 3627-3635 (2009).</li><li>Wang, X., Harris, R. E., Bayston, L. J., Ashe, H. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Type+IV+collagens+regulate+BMP+signalling+in+Drosophila.">Type IV collagens regulate BMP signalling in Drosophila.</a> Nature. 455, 72-77 (2008).</li><li>Godt, D., Laski, F. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanisms+of+cell+rearrangement+and+cell+recruitment+in+Drosophila+ovary+morphogenesis+and+the+requirement+of+bric+a+brac.">Mechanisms of cell rearrangement and cell recruitment in Drosophila ovary morphogenesis and the requirement of bric a brac.</a> Development. 121, 173-187 (1995).</li><li>Sahut-Barnola, I., Godt, D., Laski, F. A., Couderc, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila+ovary+morphogenesis:+analysis+of+terminal+filament+formation+and+identification+of+a+gene+required+for+this+process.">Drosophila ovary morphogenesis: analysis of terminal filament formation and identification of a gene required for this process.</a> Developmental biology. 170, 127-135 (1995).</li><li>Song, X., Call, G. B., Kirilly, D., Xie, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Notch+signaling+controls+germline+stem+cell+niche+formation+in+the+Drosophila+ovary.">Notch signaling controls germline stem cell niche formation in the Drosophila ovary.</a> 134, 1071-1080 (2007).</li><li>Zhu, C. H., Xie, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clonal+expansion+of+ovarian+germline+stem+cells+during+niche+formation+in+Drosophila.">Clonal expansion of ovarian germline stem cells during niche formation in Drosophila.</a> Development. 130, 2579-2588 (2003).</li><li>Ward, E. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stem+cells+signal+to+the+niche+through+the+Notch+pathway+in+the+Drosophila+ovary.">Stem cells signal to the niche through the Notch pathway in the Drosophila ovary.</a> Curr Biol. 16, 2352-2358 (2006).</li><li>Gilboa, L., Lehmann, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Repression+of+primordial+germ+cell+differentiation+parallels+germ+line+stem+cell+maintenance.">Repression of primordial germ cell differentiation parallels germ line stem cell maintenance.</a> Curr Biol. 14, 981-986 (2004).</li><li>Gilboa, L., Lehmann, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Soma-germline+interactions+coordinate+homeostasis+and+growth+in+the+Drosophila+gonad.">Soma-germline interactions coordinate homeostasis and growth in the Drosophila gonad.</a> Nature. 443, 97-100 (2006).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

This video demonstrates an isolation and staining protocol of late third instar larval ovaries. To perform this protocol routinely and reliably, attention should be paid to the following points:
<ol>
	<li>For synchronized and well-developed larvae, over crowding must be avoided.</li>
	<li>To avoid loss of the small translucent ovaries, make sure to dissect the fat body intact. This will also help in locating the ovaries at the mounting stage, particularly when mounting younger (second or beginning of third instar)...

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">	
		
		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>NaCl</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>J.T.Baker</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Kcl</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Merck</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>CaCl2</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>MgCl2</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Merck</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Sucrose</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>J.T.Baker</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Hepes</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>PBS</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Triton X-100</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Albumin Bovine Fraction V</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>MP Biomedicals</td>
<td>160069</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dumont biology tweezers 5 dumstar polished</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>FST Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>11295-10</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Nickel plated pin holder</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>FST Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>26018-17</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>s.s minutien pins 0.1mm diam, 10mm long</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>FST Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>26002-10</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>9 well plates 85X100 mm, 22mm o.d.x7mm deep</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>CORNING</td>
<td>7220-85</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Stereo Microscope MZ 16.5 with a standard transmitted light base TL ST</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Leica</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>6 well plates</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Costar</td>
<td>3516</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Slides</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Menzel Glaser GmbH</td>
<td>798</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Cover slips</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Corning</td>
<td>2940-223</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Mounting media</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Vectashield</td>
<td>H-1200</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Cell strainer</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Falcon</td>
<td>FAL352350</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>1B1 antibody</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Anti-Traffic Jam</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Laboratory of Dr. Dorothea Godt</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Anti-Vasa</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Laboratory of Dr. Ruth Lehmann</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Anti &beta;-Galactosidase</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Cappel</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Secondary Antibodies</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

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.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Dissection and Staining of Drosophila Larval Ovaries at JoVE.com

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.

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 ...

dissection-and-staining-of-drosophila-larval-ovaries

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

26.0K Views.  Weizmann Institute of Science. 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.