Primary Cultures of Drosophila melanogaster Gut Cells for Studies of Intestinal Stem Cell Regulation

Abstract

Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a useful model to study development and disease. In this study, we established the primary culture method of Drosophila in the intestine to understand how intestinal stem cells (ISCs) mediate tissue repair during infection and disease. To obtain intestinal cells, we separated intestines from adult flies and isolated single cells by enzymatic treatment. The survival of cultured cells was measured using MTS-analysis. The maximum growth rate of the cells was observed on the 9th day after seeding. In addition, the presence of ISCs and enteroendocrine cells was confirmed by delta and prospero staining. Accordingly, we supposed that Drosophila melanogaster gut cells established in this study are probably useful in studies about intestinal stem cell regulation and various diseases occurring in the intestine.