Long-term in vivo imaging of Drosophila larvae

Kakanj, P.; Eming, S. A.; Partridge, L.; Leptin, M.

doi:10.1038/s41596-019-0282-z

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Long-term in vivo imaging of Drosophila larvae

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Kakanj, P.
Department Partridge - Biological Mechanisms of Ageing, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Max Planck Society;

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Partridge, L.
Department Partridge - Biological Mechanisms of Ageing, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Max Planck Society;

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32042177
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Kakanj, P., Eming, S. A., Partridge, L., & Leptin, M. (2020). Long-term in vivo imaging of Drosophila larvae. Nat Protoc, 15(3), 1158-1187. doi:10.1038/s41596-019-0282-z.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000B-2DD4-4

Abstract

The Drosophila larva has been used to investigate many processes in cell biology, including morphogenesis, physiology and responses to drugs and new therapeutic compounds. Despite its enormous potential as a model system, longer-term live imaging has been technically challenging because of a lack of efficient methods for immobilizing larvae for extended periods. We describe here a simple procedure for anesthetization and uninterrupted long-term in vivo imaging of the epidermis and other larval organs, including gut, imaginal discs, neurons, fat body, tracheae, muscles and hemocytes, for up to 8 h. We also include a procedure for probing cell properties by laser ablation. We provide a survey of the effects of different anesthetics, demonstrating that short exposure to diethyl ether is the most effective for long-term immobilization of larvae. This protocol does not require specific expertise beyond basic Drosophila genetics and husbandry, and confocal microscopy. It enables high-resolution studies of many systemic and subcellular processes in larvae.