Small Scale Dissection and Antibody Staining of Eye-Antennal and Wing Imaginal Discs from Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila imaginal discs have long been studied as models of epithelial development, patterning, and regeneration. Antibody labeling and imaging of dissected imaginal discs is important for visualizing protein expression patterns as markers of developmental and physiological processes. This method of imaginal disc dissection and labeling was originally developed for immune-electron microscopy of eye-antennal imaginal discs by Tomlinson and Ready. Using 60-microwell plates, and by transferring tissues between solutions rather than transferring solutions, individualized attention to tissue samples is possible with very little wastage. Even single imaginal discs can be processed. The method requires only small volumes of antibodies and other reagents. As an example of the method's application to other small tissues, the article also demonstrates how wing imaginal discs can be dissected and labeled by the same method. A similar approach can be applied to any small tissue of similar dimensions, and also to other histochemical and labeling procedures besides antibody staining.