Issue 9, 2018

Long-term C. elegans immobilization enables high resolution developmental studies in vivo

Abstract

Live-imaging of C. elegans is essential for the study of conserved cellular pathways (e.g. EGFR/Wnt signaling) and morphogenesis in vivo. However, the usefulness of live imaging as a research tool has been severely limited by the need to immobilize worms prior to and during imaging. Conventionally, immobilization is achieved by employing both physical and chemical interventions. These are known to significantly affect many physiological processes, and thus limit our understanding of dynamic developmental processes. Herein we present a novel, easy-to-use microfluidic platform for the long-term immobilization of viable, normally developing C. elegans, compatible with image acquisition at high resolution, thereby overcoming the limitations associated with conventional worm immobilization. The capabilities of the platform are demonstrated through the continuous assessment of anchor cell (AC) invasion and distal tip cell (DTC) migration in larval C. elegans and germ cell apoptosis in adult C. elegans in vivo for the first time.

Graphical abstract: Long-term C. elegans immobilization enables high resolution developmental studies in vivo

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Nov 2017
Accepted
05 Apr 2018
First published
06 Apr 2018

Lab Chip, 2018,18, 1359-1368

Long-term C. elegans immobilization enables high resolution developmental studies in vivo

S. Berger, E. Lattmann, T. Aegerter-Wilmsen, M. Hengartner, A. Hajnal, A. deMello and X. Casadevall i Solvas, Lab Chip, 2018, 18, 1359 DOI: 10.1039/C7LC01185G

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