Collection, Dechorionation, and Preparation of Drosophila Embryos for Quantitative Microinjection
This protocol was adapted from “Quantitative Microinjection of Drosophila Embryos,” Chapter 18, in Drosophila Protocols (eds. Sullivan et al.). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA, 2000.INTRODUCTION
The quantitative microinjection of drugs, antibodies, toxins, and manipulated RNAs and proteins into Drosophila embryos--the “pharmacological approach”--provides a unique opportunity to analyze cellular functions in the developing embryo, and provides spatial and temporal resolution that is not readily available through genetic studies. These studies require that the observed effects reflect a dose-response relationship so that the data can be accurately interpreted. Thus, these microinjection approaches require a more refined strategy for handling embryos, and the use of appropriately designed chambers to mount and observe the embryos greatly facilitates analysis of the biological response to a given injected material. This protocol outlines the procedures for collection and preparation of Drosophila embryos for quantitative microinjection.
