Primary Culture of Drosophila melanogaster Glial Cells

Abstract

Glial cells are one of the most abundant cell types in human brains, yet there is very little that we actually know about these cells. We do know that glial cells are important and vital regulators of the function of the nervous system, and thus further research on the abilities and capabilities of glial cells will expand our breadth of knowledge about the nervous system. According to past research, the morphology and basic function of glial cells is quite similar in humans and in the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster. Thus, further research and investigation into the potential of glial cells in Drosophila melanogaster can potentially add to our understanding of glial cells and the nervous system (Parker et al. 2006). In this project, embryonic cells from Drosophila melanogaster are cultured in a specified medium followed a 24-hour period of egg laying. The culture is then incubated for a 24-hour period, followed immediately by immunohistochemistry. Through antibody staining using anti-Repo to detect for the presence of glial cells, it was confirmed that glial cells were present and thriving. This protocol could be applied to future research, which requires the culturing of glial cells.