A Drosophila In Vivo Injury Model for Studying Neuroregeneration in the Peripheral and Central Nervous System

Summary

Here, we present a protocol using the Drosophila sensory neuron - dendritic arborization (da) neuron injury model, which combines in vivo live imaging, two-photon laser axotomy/dendriotomy, and the powerful fly genetic toolbox, as a platform for screening potential promoters and inhibitors of neuroregeneration.

Abstract

The regrowth capacity of damaged neurons governs neuroregeneration and functional recovery after nervous system trauma. Over the past few decades, various intrinsic and extrinsic inhibitory factors involved in the restriction of axon regeneration have been identified. However, simply removing these inhibitory cues is insufficient for successful regeneration, indicating the existence of additional regulatory machinery. Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, shares evolutionarily conserved genes and signaling pathways with vertebrates, including humans. Combining the powerful genetic toolbox of flies with two-photon laser axotomy/dendriotomy, we describe here the Drosophila sensory neuron – dendritic arborization (da) neuron injury model as a platform for systematically screening for novel regeneration regulators. Briefly, this paradigm includes a) the preparation of larvae, b) lesion induction to dendrite(s) or axon(s) using a two-photon laser, c) live confocal imaging post-injury and d) data analysis. Our model enables highly reproducible injury of single labeled neurons, axons, and dendrites of well-defined neuronal subtypes, in both the peripheral and central nervous system.

Introduction

The inability of axons to regenerate after an injury to the central nervous system (CNS), may lead to permanent disabilities in patients, and also plays a role in the irreversible neurological deficits in neurodegenerative diseases^1,2,3,4,5. The CNS environment, as well as the intrinsic growth ability of neurons, determines whether axons are able to regenerate after trauma. Extracellular factors from oligodendrocyte, astroglial, and fibroblastic sources have been shown to impede neuronal growth

Protocol

1. Preparation of Culture Plates and Bottles

1. Preparation of grape juice agar plates
   1. Add 10 g of agar powder, 200 mL grape juice, and 192 mL ddH₂O into a beaker and microwave for about 4-5 min, stirring intermittently until the agar is completely dissolved.
   2. In a fume hood, cool down the solution to approx. 60 °C. Add 4.2 mL 95% ethanol and 4.0 mL glacial acetic acid. Adjust the total volume of the solution to 400 mL with ddH₂O. Mix well.
   3. For each 35-mm plate, add about 2-3 mL of the solution. Make approximately 120-150 plates for a total of 400 mL grape juice agar solution.
   4. Wait for 10 ....

Results

Da neurons show differential regeneration potential between the peripheral and central nervous system, as well as class specificity. This provides unique opportunities to screen for novel factors that are required for axon regeneration (using class IV PNS injury), as well as those that are inhibitory for regeneration (with class IV CNS injury and class III PNS injury).

Axon regeneration in the PNS

Discussion

When setting up fly crosses, the number of females and males used can vary depending on the genotypes and the number of larvae needed for specific experiments. For WT flies, typical cross uses 10 females and 5 males. The collection window may be narrowed, depending on the accuracy of the larvae age required. For example, a 2-h collection period will yield larvae of a more homogenous population. In this case, using 20 or more virgin females to set up the crosses will help yield sufficient eggs. The yield from the first da.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Diethyl ether, ACS reagent, anhydrous	Acros Organics	AC615080010
Halocarbon 27 Oil	Genesee Scientific	59-133
Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), 20x Concentrate, pH 7.5, supplier # E703-1L	VWR	97062-948
Agar powder, Alfa Aesar, 500GM	VWR	AAA10752-36
Grape juice	Welch’s
Ethanol 95% (Reagent Alcohol 95%)	VWR	64-17-5
Acetic acid	Sigma-Aldrich	A6283
Propionic Acid	J.T.Baker	U33007
Cover Glasses: Rectangles	Fisher Scientific	12-544-D	50 mm X 22 mm
Zeiss LSM 880 laser scanning microscope	Zeiss
Zen software	Zeiss
Chameleon Ultra II	Coherent