Larval Lymph Gland Dissection: Isolating the Drosophila Hemocyte-Producing Organ

In This Article

Abstract

Source: Reimels, T. A. and Pfleger, C. M. Methods to Examine the Lymph Gland and Hemocytes in Drosophila Larvae. J. Vis. Exp. (2016).

This video describes the Drosophila lymph gland—the primary site of hematopoiesis in the fly larva—and shows an example protocol to dissect and mount the organ for immunohistochemistry and fluorescent imaging.

Protocol

This protocol is an excerpt from Reimels and Pfleger, Methods to Examine the Lymph Gland and Hemocytes in Drosophila Larvae, J. Vis. Exp. (2016).

1. Larval Lymph Gland Immunohistochemistry

NOTE: The lymph gland is located approximately one-third length from the anterior end of a larva slightly below the brain on the dorsal side. (See arrow in Figure 1B.) The lymph gland flanks the dorsal vessel and is most easily dissected attached to the mouth hooks or to the brain. Wild-type, third instar lymph glands are very small str....

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Results

PCR tubes with sample preparation; larval observation under a microscope for experimental analysis.
Figure 1: In Vivo Crystal Cell Melanization. A) Larvae were placed individually in PCR tubes prior to heating. Red arrows indicate larvae that are not at the bottom of the tubes. B) A typical crystal cell melanization pattern after .......