Characteristics of five cell types appearing during in vitro culture of embryonic material from Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract

Although attempts have been made over a number of decades to achieve successful tissue culture of Drosophila material, progress has been held back until recently by a lack of basic information on the chemical and physiological characteristics of the haemolymph of the organism necessary for a reasoned formulation of a culture medium. In 1963, Begg & Cruickshank published details of the mineral composition, osmotic pressure and pH of the haemolymph of third instar larvae, and this has provided the basis for a more satisfactory approach, as reflected in an increasing amount of fruitful work since reported. Much of this work has been done with embryonic material. Horikawa & Fox (1964) claimed continuous multiplication of a small type of early embryonic cell; Lesseps (1965) described re-aggregation of dissociated embryonic cells in culture, with possible development of muscle cells, nerve cells and oenocytes in the aggregates.