Cultivation and Live Imaging of Drosophila Imaginal Discs

The ex vivo cultivation and live imaging of wing discs open exciting new research avenues by overcoming the limitations of end-point analysis of fixed tissues. Here we describe how to prepare an optimized wing disc culture medium (WM1) and how to dissect and arrange wing discs for cultivation and live imaging. This protocol enables the study of dynamic phenomena such as cell division and delamination as well as the use of pharmacological compounds and biosensors. Wing discs cultured and imaged as described here, maintain constant levels of proliferation during the first ten hours of culture.