title: Labeling of single cells in the central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: In this article we describe how to individually label neurons in the embryonic CNS of Drosophila melanogaster by juxtacellular injection of the lipophilic fluorescent membrane marker DiI. This method allows the visualization of neuronal cell morphology in great detail. It is possible to label any cell in the CNS: cell bodies of target neurons are visualized under DIC optics or by expression of a fluorescent genetic marker such as GFP. After labeling, the DiI can be transformed into a permanent brown stain by photoconversion to allow visualization of cell morphology with transmitted light and DIC optics. Alternatively, the DiI-labeled cells can be observed directly with confocal microscopy, enabling genetically introduced fluorescent reporter proteins to be colocalised. The technique can be used in any animal, irrespective of genotype, making it possible to analyze mutant phenotypes at single cell resolution.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics, University of Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rickert
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.forename: Kerri-Lee
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whitington
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Technau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000737:chemistry*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: C582073:1,1'-dioleyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine; D002232:Carbocyanines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes