Live imaging of the Drosophila ovarian germline stem cell niche.

Authors :: Wilcockson SG
Ashe HL
Source :: STAR protocols [STAR Protoc] 2021 Mar 05; Vol. 2 (1), pp. 100371. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Mar 05 (Print Publication: 2021).
Publication Year :: 2021
Abstract: The maintenance of stem cell populations and the differentiation of their progeny is coordinated by specific communication with associated niche cells. Here, we describe a protocol for short-term live imaging of the Drosophila ovarian germline stem cell niche ex vivo. By immobilizing the ovarian tissue in a fibrinogen-thrombin clot, we are able to maintain the tissue for short-term high-temporal live imaging. This enables the visualization of dynamic cellular processes, such as the cytoskeletal dynamics that control stem cell niche communication. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Wilcockson and Ashe (2019).<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.<br /> (© 2021 The Authors.)