Keywords

insects, Drosophila melanogaster, sensory receptor cells, imaging, genetically encoded sensors, mosquitoes, ants, mites

Abstract

Most sense organs of arthropods are ensconced in small exoskeletal compartments that hinder direct access to plasma membranes. We have developed a method for exposing live sensory and supporting cells in such structures. The technique uses a viscous light cured resin to embed and support the structure, which is then sliced with a sharp blade. We term the procedure a “goggatomy,” from the Khoisan word for a bug, gogga. To demonstrate the utility of the method we show that it can be used to expose the auditory chordotonal organs in the second antennal segment and the olfactory receptor neurons in the third antennal segment of Drosophila melanogaster, preserving the transduction machinery. The procedure can also be used on other small arthropods, like mosquitoes and mites to expose a variety of cells.

Original Publication Citation

Kay AR, Raccuglia D, Scholte J, Sivan-Loukianova E, Barwacz CA, Armstrong SR, Guymon CA, Nitabach MN and Eberl DF (2016) Goggatomy: A Method for Opening Small Cuticular Compartments in Arthropods for Physiological Experiments. Front. Physiol. 7:398. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00398

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2016-09-12

Publisher

Front. Physiol.

Language

English

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering

Department

Chemical Engineering

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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