Name: retrograde tracing of drosophila embryonic motor neurons using lipophilic fluorescent dyes
Uploaded: 2020-01-12T16:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes at JoVE.com

We thank members of the Kamiyama Lab for comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by an NIH R01 NS107558 (to M.I., K.B., and D.K.).

1. Equipment and Supplies
<ol>
	<li>Materials for collecting embryos and training adults to lay eggs
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare the filtration apparatus by severing a 50 mL tube and cutting open a hole in the cap to set a mesh filter with pores of 100 &#181;m (Table of Materials) in between the tube and the cap. 
		NOTE: Alternatively, cell strainers with pores of 100 &#181;m (Table of Materials) can be used for the filtration step of embryo collection.</li>
		<li>Make agar plates with g...

<ol>
	<li>Arzan Zarin, A., Labrador, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Motor+axon+guidance+in+Drosophila.">Motor axon guidance in Drosophila.</a> Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology. 85, 36-47 (2019).</li><li>Nose, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Generation+of+neuromuscular+specificity+in+Drosophila:+novel+mechanisms+revealed+by+new+technologies.">Generation of neuromuscular specificity in Drosophila: novel mechanisms revealed by new technologies.</a> Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 5, 62 (2012).</li><li>Kim, M. D., Wen, Y., Jan, Y. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Patterning+and+organization+of+motor+neuron+dendrites+in+the+Drosophila+larva.">Patterning and organization of motor neuron dendrites in the Drosophila larva.</a> Developmental Biology. 336 (2), 213-221 (2009).</li><li>Manning, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+resource+for+manipulating+gene+expression+and+analyzing+cis-regulatory+modules+in+the+Drosophila+CNS.">A resource for manipulating gene expression and analyzing cis-regulatory modules in the Drosophila CNS.</a> Cell Reports. 2 (4), 1002-1013 (2012).</li><li>Featherstone, D. E., Chen, K., 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=Harvesting+and+preparing+Drosophila+embryos+for+electrophysiological+recording+and+other+procedures.">Harvesting and preparing Drosophila embryos for electrophysiological recording and other procedures.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (27), e1347 (2009).</li><li>Chen, K., Featherstone, D. E., 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=Electrophysiological+recording+in+the+Drosophila+embryo.">Electrophysiological recording in the Drosophila embryo.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (27), e1348 (2009).</li><li>Doe, C. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Temporal+Patterning+in+the+Drosophila+CNS.">Temporal Patterning in the Drosophila CNS.</a> Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 33, 219-240 (2017).</li><li>Homem, C. C., Knoblich, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila+neuroblasts:+a+model+for+stem+cell+biology.">Drosophila neuroblasts: a model for stem cell biology.</a> Development. 139 (23), 4297-4310 (2012).</li><li>Urbach, R., Technau, G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuroblast+formation+and+patterning+during+early+brain+development+in+Drosophila.">Neuroblast formation and patterning during early brain development in Drosophila.</a> Bioessays. 26 (7), 739-751 (2004).</li><li>Carrero-Mart&#237;nez, F. A., Chiba, A., Umemori, H., Hortsch, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+Adhesion+Molecules+at+the+Drosophila+Neuromuscular+Junction.">Cell Adhesion Molecules at the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction.</a> The Sticky Synapse: Cell Adhesion Molecules and Their Role in Synapse Formation and Maintenance. , 11-37 (2009).</li><li>Ritzenthaler, S., Suzuki, E., Chiba, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Postsynaptic+filopodia+in+muscle+cells+interact+with+innervating+motoneuron+axons.">Postsynaptic filopodia in muscle cells interact with innervating motoneuron axons.</a> Nature Neuroscience. 3 (10), 1012-1017 (2000).</li><li>Kohsaka, H., Takasu, E., Nose, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+induction+of+postsynaptic+molecular+assembly+by+the+cell+adhesion+molecule+Fasciclin2.">In vivo induction of postsynaptic molecular assembly by the cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin2.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 179 (6), 1289-1300 (2007).</li><li>Kohsaka, H., Nose, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Target+recognition+at+the+tips+of+postsynaptic+filopodia:+accumulation+and+function+of+Capricious.">Target recognition at the tips of postsynaptic filopodia: accumulation and function of Capricious.</a> Development. 136 (7), 1127-1135 (2009).</li><li>Landgraf, M., Bossing, T., Technau, G. M., Bate, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+origin,+location,+and+projections+of+the+embryonic+abdominal+motorneurons+of+Drosophila.">The origin, location, and projections of the embryonic abdominal motorneurons of Drosophila.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 17 (24), 9642-9655 (1997).</li><li>Kamiyama, D., Chiba, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endogenous+activation+patterns+of+Cdc42+GTPase+within+Drosophila+embryos.">Endogenous activation patterns of Cdc42 GTPase within Drosophila embryos.</a> Science. 324 (5932), 1338-1340 (2009).</li><li>Furrer, M. P., Vasenkova, I., Kamiyama, D., Rosado, Y., Chiba, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Slit+and+Robo+control+the+development+of+dendrites+in+Drosophila+CNS.">Slit and Robo control the development of dendrites in Drosophila CNS.</a> Development. 134 (21), 3795-3804 (2007).</li><li>Kamiyama, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Specification+of+Dendritogenesis+Site+in+Drosophila+aCC+Motoneuron+by+Membrane+Enrichment+of+Pak1+through+Dscam1.">Specification of Dendritogenesis Site in Drosophila aCC Motoneuron by Membrane Enrichment of Pak1 through Dscam1.</a> Developmental Cell. 35 (1), 93-106 (2015).</li><li>Campos-Ortega, J. A., Hartenstein, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The embryonic development of Drosophila melanogaster. , (1985).</li><li>. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila+Ringer's+solution.">Drosophila Ringer's solution.</a> Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. 2007 (4), (2007).</li><li>Rickert, C., Kunz, T., Harris, K. -. L., Whitington, P., Technau, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Labeling+of+single+cells+in+the+central+nervous+system+of+Drosophila+melanogaster.">Labeling of single cells in the central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (73), e50150 (2013).</li><li>Fujioka, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Even-skipped,+acting+as+a+repressor,+regulates+axonal+projections+in+Drosophila.">Even-skipped, acting as a repressor, regulates axonal projections in Drosophila.</a> Development. 130 (22), 5385-5400 (2003).</li><li>Sink, H., Rehm, E. J., Richstone, L., Bulls, Y. M., Goodman, C. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=sidestep+encodes+a+target-derived+attractant+essential+for+motor+axon+guidance+in+Drosophila.">sidestep encodes a target-derived attractant essential for motor axon guidance in Drosophila.</a> Cell. 105 (1), 57-67 (2001).</li><li>Furrer, M. P., Kim, S., Wolf, B., Chiba, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Robo+and+Frazzled/DCC+mediate+dendritic+guidance+at+the+CNS+midline.">Robo and Frazzled/DCC mediate dendritic guidance at the CNS midline.</a> Nature Neuroscience. 6 (3), 223-230 (2003).</li><li>Landgraf, M., Jeffrey, V., Fujioka, M., Jaynes, J. B., Bate, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Embryonic+origins+of+a+motor+system:+motor+dendrites+form+a+myotopic+map+in+Drosophila.">Embryonic origins of a motor system: motor dendrites form a myotopic map in Drosophila.</a> PLoS Biology. 1 (2), 41 (2003).</li></ol>

The use of dye labeling for studying neuronal morphology has several advantages over genetic cell-labeling techniques. The dye labeling technique can minimize the amount of time needed for labeling and imaging the morphologies of motor neurons. The dye labeling process is quite fast as it takes less than 2 h and enables us to define the outline of neuronal projections. As an alternative, one can visualize the aCC motor neuron by choosing a GAL4 line that expresses the yeast GAL4 transcription factor in aCC, and crossing ...

The embryonic motor neuron system of Drosophila offers a powerful experimental model to analyze the mechanisms underlying the development of the central nervous system (CNS)1,2,3. The motor neuron system is amenable to biochemical, genetic, imaging, and electrophysiological techniques. Using the techniques, genetic manipulations and functional analyses can be carried out at the level of single motor neurons2,4,5,6.
During early development of the nervous system, neuroblasts divide and generate a large number of glia and neurons. The spatiotemporal relationship between the delamination and the gene expression profile of neuroblasts has been previously investigated in detail7,8,9. In the case of the motor neuron system, the formation of embryonic neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has been extensively studied using the aCC (anterior corner cell), RP2 (raw prawn 2), and RP5 motor neurons2,10. For instance, when the RP5 motor neuron forms a nascent synaptic junction, the pre-synaptic and post-synaptic filopodia are intermingled11,12,13. Such direct cellular communication is vital to initiate the NMJ formation. Contrary to what we know about the peripheral nerve branches, our knowledge of how motor dendrites initiate synaptic connectivity within the CNS is still primitive.
In this report, we present a technique that allows retrograde labeling of motor neurons in embryos by means of micropipette-mediated delivery of lipophilic dyes. This technique enables us to trace the 38 motor neurons innervating each of the 30 body wall muscles in a hemi-segment at 15 h after egg laying (AEL)14. By using this technique, our group has thoroughly investigated numerous gain-of-function/loss-of-function alleles15,16,17. We have recently unraveled the molecular mechanisms that drive initiation of motor dendrite connectivity and demonstrated that a Dscam1-Dock-Pak interaction defines the site of dendrite outgrowth in the aCC motor neuron17. In general, this technique is adaptable for the phenotypic analysis of any embryonic motor neurons in wild type or mutant strains, enhancing our ability to provide new insights into the functional design of the Drosophila nervous system.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>10x objective lens</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Plan</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>40x water-immersion lens</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>NIR Apo</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Capillary tubing</td>
			<td>Frederick Haer&#38;Co</td>
			<td>27-31-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Confocal microscope</td>
			<td>Andor</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Dragonfly Spinning disk confocal unit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover glass</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>22x22 mm Square #1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DiD</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>V22886</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DiI</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>V22888</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DiO</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>V22887</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>SMZ-U</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Double Sided Tape</td>
			<td>Scotch</td>
			<td>665</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dow Corning High-Vacuum Grease</td>
			<td>Fisher Sci.</td>
			<td>14-635-5D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont #5 Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11252-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Egg collection cage</td>
			<td>FlyStuff</td>
			<td>59-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FemtoJet 5247</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>discontinued</td>
			<td>FemtoJet 4i (Cat No. 5252000021)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImageJ</td>
			<td>NIH</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Image processing software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micromanipulator</td>
			<td>Sutter</td>
			<td>MP-225</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micropipette beveler</td>
			<td>Sutter</td>
			<td>BV-10-B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Needle puller</td>
			<td>Narishige</td>
			<td>PC-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nutri-Fly Grape Agar Powder Premix Packets</td>
			<td>FlyStuff</td>
			<td>47-102</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nylon Net Filter</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde 16% Solution, EM grade</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>15710</td>
			<td>Any EM grades</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>11666789001</td>
			<td>Sold on sigmaaldrich, boxed 10x solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Photo-Flo 200</td>
			<td>Kodak</td>
			<td>146 4510</td>
			<td>Wetting agent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Upright fluorescence microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Eclipse Ci with a LED light source</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vinyl Electrical Tape</td>
			<td>Scotch</td>
			<td>6143</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VWR Cell Strainers</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>10199-659</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Yeast</td>
			<td>FlyStuff</td>
			<td>62-103</td>
			<td>Active dry yeast (RED STAR)</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

retrograde tracing of drosophila embryonic motor neurons using lipophilic fluorescent dyes

We describe a technique for retrograde labeling of motor neurons in Drosophila. We use an oil-dissolved lipophilic dye and deliver a small droplet to an embryonic fillet preparation by a microinjector. Each motor neuron whose membrane is contacted by the droplet can then be rapidly labeled. Individual motor neurons are continuously labeled, enabling fine structural details to be clearly visualized. Given that lipophilic dyes come in various colors, the technique also provides a means to get adjacent neurons labeled in multicolor. This tracing technique is therefore useful for studying neuronal morphogenesis and synaptic connectivity in the motor neuron system of Drosophila.

A representative image of the aCC and RP3 motor neurons is shown in Figure 3C to demonstrate the multicolor labeling of motor neurons at 15 h AEL. Their dendritic morphologies are largely invariant between embryos. The staining pattern obtained with anti-HRP antibody is shown in gray. A small droplet of DiO or DiD was deposited on the NMJ of muscle 1 or 6/7, respectively. Figure 4 demonstrates the capability to quantitatively measure the phenoty...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes at JoVE.com

Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes

We describe a method for retrograde tracing of the Drosophila embryonic motor neurons using lipophilic fluorescent dyes.

Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes

We describe a technique for retrograde labeling of motor neurons in Drosophila. We use an oil-dissolved lipophilic dye and deliver a small droplet to an ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Analysis of Cardiomyocyte Development using Immunofluorescence in Embryonic Mouse Heart

During heart development, the generation of myocardial-specific structural and functional units including sarcomeres, contractile myofibrils, intercalated ...

A Method for Lineage Tracing of Corneal Cells Using Multi-color Fluorescent Reporter Mice

Lineage tracing experiments define the origin, fate and behavior of cells in a specific tissue or organism. This technique has been successfully applied ...

Transcriptome Profiling of In-Vivo Produced Bovine Pre-implantation Embryos Using Two-color Microarray Platform

Transcriptome Profiling of In-Vivo Produced Bovine Pre-implantation Embryos Using Two-color Microarray Platform

Early embryonic loss is a large contributor to infertility in cattle. Moreover, bovine becomes an interesting model to study human preimplantation embryo ...

Dissection and Immunofluorescent Staining of Mushroom Body and Photoreceptor Neurons in Adult Drosophila melanogaster Brains

Dissection and Immunofluorescent Staining of Mushroom Body and Photoreceptor Neurons in Adult Drosophila melanogaster Brains

Nervous system development involves a sequential series of events that are coordinated by several signaling pathways and regulatory networks. Many of the ...

In Vivo Tracking of Human Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rat Knee Osteoarthritis Model with Fluorescent Lipophilic Membrane Dye

In Vivo Tracking of Human Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rat Knee Osteoarthritis Model with Fluorescent Lipophilic Membrane Dye

In order to support the clinical application of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (haMSC) therapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), we examined the ...

Tracing Gene Expression Through Detection of &#946;-galactosidase Activity in Whole Mouse Embryos

Tracing Gene Expression Through Detection of ÃƒÆ’Ã…Â½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â²-galactosidase Activity in Whole Mouse Embryos

The Escherichia coli LacZ gene, encoding &#946;-galactosidase, is largely used as a reporter for gene expression and as a tracer in cell lineage studies. ...

Visualize Drosophila Leg Motor Neuron Axons Through the Adult Cuticle

Visualize Drosophila Leg Motor Neuron Axons Through the Adult Cuticle

The majority of work on the neuronal specification has been carried out in genetically and physiologically tractable models such as C. elegans, Drosophila ...

Thawing, Culturing, and Cryopreserving Drosophila Cell Lines

Thawing, Culturing, and Cryopreserving Drosophila Cell Lines

There are currently over 160 distinct Drosophila cell lines distributed by the Drosophila Genomics Resource Center (DGRC). With genome engineering, the ...

Clonal Genetic Tracing using the Confetti Mouse to Study Mineralized Tissues

Labeling an individual cell in the body to monitor which cell types it can give rise to and track its migration through the organism or determine its ...

Efficient Neural Differentiation using Single-Cell Culture of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

In vitro differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has transformed the ability to study human development on both biological and molecular ...