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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Dissection and Lipid Droplet Staining of Oenocytes in Drosophila Larvae
Published on: December 28, 2019
Administration of Essential Phospholipids Prevents Drosophila Melanogaster Oocytes from Responding to Change in
Ksenia K Gogichaeva1, Irina V Ogneva1,2
1Cell Biophysics Laboratory, State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 76 a, Khoroshevskoyoe Shosse, 123007 Moscow, Russia.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to prevent initial changes in Drosophila melanogaster oocytes under simulated weightlessness and hypergravity at the 2 g level. Phospholipids with polyunsaturated fatty acids in the tail groups (essential phospholipids) at a concentration of 500 mg/kg of nutrient medium were used as a protective agent. Cell stiffness was determined using atomic force microscopy, the change in the oocytes' area was assessed as a mark of deformation, and the contents of cholesterol and neutral lipids were determined using fluorescence microscopy. The results indicate that the administration of essential phospholipids leads to a decrease in the cholesterol content in the oocytes' membranes by 13% (p < 0.05). The stiffness of oocytes from flies that received essential phospholipids was 14% higher (p < 0.05) and did not change during 6 h of simulated weightlessness or hypergravity, and neither did the area, which indicates their resistance to deformation. Moreover, the exposure to simulated weightlessness and hypergravity of oocytes from flies that received a standard nutrient medium led to a more intense loss of cholesterol from cell membranes after 30 min by 13% and 18% (p < 0.05), respectively, compared to the control, but essential phospholipids prevented this effect.
Insights
Essential phospholipids protect Drosophila melanogaster oocytes from changes caused by simulated weightlessness and hypergravity. These essential phospholipids maintained cell stiffness and prevented cholesterol loss, crucial for cellular integrity under altered gravity.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Gravitational biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cellular structures are sensitive to altered gravity.
- Maintaining cell membrane integrity is vital for oocyte function.
- Essential phospholipids play a role in cell membrane structure and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effects of essential phospholipids on Drosophila melanogaster oocytes.
- To assess the impact of simulated weightlessness and hypergravity on oocyte cell properties.
- To determine if essential phospholipids can prevent gravity-induced changes in oocytes.
Main Methods:
- Atomic force microscopy to measure cell stiffness.
- Fluorescence microscopy to quantify cholesterol and neutral lipid content.
- Assessment of oocyte area changes to evaluate deformation.
Main Results:
- Essential phospholipids decreased oocyte membrane cholesterol by 13%.
- Oocyte stiffness increased by 14% and remained stable under simulated gravity.
- Essential phospholipids prevented cholesterol loss from membranes during simulated weightlessness and hypergravity.
Conclusions:
- Essential phospholipids enhance oocyte membrane stability and resistance to deformation.
- Supplementation with essential phospholipids protects oocytes from gravity-induced cellular changes.
- This suggests a potential strategy for preserving reproductive cell function in space environments.
