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Updated: Sep 16, 2025
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Quantification of Lipid Abundance and Evaluation of Lipid Distribution in Caenorhabditis elegans by Nile Red and Oil Red O Staining
Published on: March 5, 2018
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Method development for correlating lipid molecular information with anatomy in C. elegans.
Sara Mandic1, Bryn Flinders2, Michiel Vandenbosch2
1Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Life, Environmental, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
Scientific Reports
|July 8, 2025
Summary
We developed a microfluidics method for preparing nematode sections for mass-spectrometry imaging (MSI). This technique allows detailed lipid mapping and 3D reconstruction of Caenorhabditis elegans, advancing lipid metabolism studies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Caenorhabditis elegans is a key model organism for investigating fat storage and lipid metabolism.
- Mass-spectrometry imaging (MSI) offers potential for mapping lipid spatial distribution.
- Current MSI analysis of C. elegans is hindered by the absence of reproducible sample preparation protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reproducible microfluidics-based workflow for preparing serial sections of C. elegans for multimodal analysis.
- To enable spatial lipidomic profiling and 3D reconstruction of individual nematodes.
- To correlate lipid distribution with anatomical structures in C. elegans.
Main Methods:
- A microfluidics workflow was developed for preparing consecutive, structurally intact sections of C. elegans.
- Multimodal analysis was performed using MSI and Oil Red O staining on single nematode sections.
- Feature-based image reconstruction was employed for 3D nematode reconstruction using optical and MSI data.
Main Results:
- The microfluidics method successfully preserved internal structures like the pharynx, intestine, and embryos in nematode sections.
- MSI and Oil Red O staining revealed spatial distribution of various lipids across different nematode body parts.
- The 3D reconstruction technique integrated optical images with MSI-based lipid mapping.
Conclusions:
- The presented microfluidics workflow significantly improves sample preparation for MSI analysis of C. elegans.
- This method facilitates detailed spatial lipidomics and 3D anatomical reconstruction of nematodes.
- The approach allows for robust correlation of lipid profiles with specific anatomical features, enhancing our understanding of nematode lipid metabolism.
