Insulin Injection and Hemolymph Extraction to Measure Insulin Sensitivity in Adult Drosophila melanogaster

JoVE 2722 6/30/2011

Aaron T. Haselton¹, Yih-Woei C. Fridell²

¹Department of Biology, State University of New York, ²Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut

Conserved insulin signaling pathways found in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster make this organism a potential tool for modeling metabolic disorders including type II diabetes. To this end, it is critical to establish physiological assays to effectively measure systemic insulin action in peripheral glucose disposal in the adult fly.

Saliva, Salivary Gland, and Hemolymph Collection from Ixodes scapularis Ticks

JoVE 3894 2/21/2012

Toni G. Patton¹, Gabrielle Dietrich², Kevin Brandt¹, Marc C. Dolan², Joseph Piesman², Robert D. Gilmore Jr.¹

¹Microbiology and Pathogenesis Activity, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ²Tick-Borne Diseases Activity, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The collection of infected tick hemolymph, salivary glands, and saliva is important to study how tick-borne pathogens cause disease. In this protocol we demonstrate how to collect hemolymph and salivary glands from feeding Ixodes scapularis nymphs. We also demonstrate saliva collection from female I. scapularis adults.

Obtaining Hemocytes from the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid Euprymna scolopes and Observing their Adherence to Symbiotic and Non-Symbiotic Bacteria

JoVE 1714 2/11/2010

Andrew J. Collins, Spencer V. Nyholm

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut

This video will demonstrate how to obtain hemocytes (blood cells) from the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes for use in cell biological and bacterial adhesion assays. Hemocytes will be stained with a fluorescent dye and exposed to GFP-labeled bacteria.

Preparation of Aplysia Sensory-motor Neuronal Cell Cultures

JoVE 1355 6/08/2009

Yali Zhao¹, Dan O. Wang¹, Kelsey C. Martin^1,2,3

¹Dept. of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, ²Dept. of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, ³Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles

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.

A Protocol for Collecting and Staining Hemocytes from the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti

JoVE 2772 5/16/2011

Amina A. Qayum, Aparna Telang

Department of Biology, University of Richmond

A simplified yet accurate method to collect and stain mosquito hemocytes is described. Our method combines the simplicity of perfusion with the accuracy of high injection techniques to isolate clean preparations of hemocytes in Aedes mosquitoes. This method facilitates studies requiring knowledge of the types of hemocytes and their abundance.

February 2012: This Month in JoVE

JoVE 4258 2/01/2012

Aaron Kolski-Andreaco

Electrode Fabrication and Implantation in Aplysia californica for Multi-channel Neural and Muscular Recordings in Intact, Freely Behaving Animals

JoVE 1791 6/04/2010

Miranda J. Cullins¹, Hillel J. Chiel^1,2,3

¹Biology, Case Western Reserve University, ²Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, ³Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

A technique is described for implanting four in vivo electrodes to monitor the neuromuscular control of feeding behavior in Aplysia californica.

Visualizing the Beating Heart in Drosophila

JoVE 1425 9/28/2009

Georg Vogler, Karen Ocorr

Development and Aging Program, The Sanford Burnham Institute for Medical Research

Technique required for visualizing the beating heart in larval and adult Drosophila are presented. Each life stage requires a different methodology.

Visualizing the Live Drosophila Glial-neuromuscular Junction with Fluorescent Dyes

JoVE 1154 5/13/2009

Dee Brink, Mary Gilbert, Vanessa Auld

Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia - UBC

We described structural features of the Glia-neuromuscular synapses in a novel Inside-out tissue preparation of live fly larvae using fluorescent dyes with confocal microscopy. We labeled live neuron terminals with fluorescent primary antibodies to HRP, and also visualized the perisynaptic space with fluorescent Dextrans.

Loading Drosophila Nerve Terminals with Calcium Indicators

JoVE 250 7/30/2007

Adam Rossano, Gregory Macleod

Department of Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA)

Calcium is a ubiquitous messenger in the nervous system, essential for triggering neurotransmitter release and changes in synaptic strength. Here we demonstrate a technique for loading Ca²⁺-indicators into Drosophila nerve terminals. We also demonstrate fabrication of the required apparatus and emphasize points critical for the technique's success.