title: Formaldehyde fixation of Drosophila testes.
abstract: This protocol describes formaldehyde fixation of Drosophila testes. The procedure preserves chromosome morphology very well, allowing a clear visualization of the chromosome condensation-decondensation cycle. It also results in excellent preservation of microtubules for immunostaining. The main disadvantage of this fixation technique is its poor preservation of cell morphology, as viewed by phase-contrast optics. In addition, because it involves a rather hard squashing of formaldehyde-fixed testes, it results in meiotic figures which are flatter and larger than those obtained using methanol-acetone or paraformaldehyde fixation protocols.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonaccorsi
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Giansanti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cenci
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004772:Entomology / Q000379:methods*; D005404:Fixatives / Q000378:metabolism; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde