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Distribution, classification, and development ofDrosophila glial cells in the late embryonic and early larval ventral nerve cord

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Abstract

To facilitate the investigation of glial development inDrosophila, we present a detailed description of theDrosophila glial cells in the ventral nerve cord. A GAL4 enhancer-trap screen for glial-specific expression was performed. Using UAS-lacZ and UAS-kinesin-lacZ as reporter constructs, we describe the distribution and morphology of the identified glial cells in the fully differentiated ventral nerve cord of first-instar larvae just after hatching. The three-dimensional structure of the glial network was reconstructed using a computer. Using the strains with consistent GAL4 expression during late embryogenesis, we traced back the development of the identified cells to provide a glial map at embryonic stage 16. We identify typically 60 (54–64) glial cells per abdominal neuromere both in embryos and early larvae. They are divided into six subtypes under three categories: surface-associated glia (16–18 subperineurial glial cells and 6–8 channel glial cells), cortex-associated glia (6–8 cell body glial cells), and neuropile-associated glia (8–10 nerve root glial cells, 14–16 interface glial cells, and 3–4 midline glial cells). The proposed glial classification system is discussed in comparison with previous insect glial classifications.

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Abbreviations

%NAP :

Percent neuromere antero-posterior

%NML :

Percent neuromere medio-lateral

%NVD :

Percent neuromere ventro-dorsal

ac :

Anterior commissure

act :

Cell body fibre tracts to the anterior commissure

aCC :

anterior corner cell AEL After egg laying

A-SPG :

A subperineurial glial cell

B-SPG :

B subperineurial glial cell

cbf :

Cell body fibres

CBG :

Cell body glia (glial cell)

CG :

Channel glia (glial cell)

CNS :

Central nervous system D Dorsal

DAB :

3,3′-diaminobenzidine

DLSPG :

Dorsal lateral subperineurial glial cell

dn :

Dorsal nerve (transverse nerve)

DV :

channel Dorsoventral channel

D-CG :

Dorsal channel glial cell

D-IG :

Dorsal interface glial cell (cluster)

D-MG :

Dorsal midline glial cell (cluster)

DRG Dorsal :

roofglia

EG :

Exit glia (glial cell)

FETi :

Fast extensor tibiae

GDA :

glutardialdehyde

GFAP :

Glial fibrillary acid protein

GIGI :

Glial glia

IG :

Interface glia (glial cell)

ISNG :

Intersegmental nerve root glia (glial cell)

ISNR :

Intersegmental nerve root

L :

Lateral

L1 :

First instar larvae just after hatching

D-SPG :

Lateral dorsal subperineurial glial cell

LG :

longitudinal glia (glial cell)

LV-SPG :

Lateral ventral subperineurial glial cell

L-CBG :

Lateral cell body glial cell

L-IG :

Lateral interface glial cell (cluster)

L-ISNG :

Lateral intersegmental nerve root glial cell

L-SNG :

Lateral segmental nerve root glial cell

M :

medial

MD-SPG :

Medial dorsal subperineurial glial cell

MG :

midline glia (glial cell) (cluster)

MM :

medialmost

MM-CBG :

medialmost cell body glial cell

MNB :

Median neuroblast

MV-SPG :

Medial ventral subperineurial glial cell

m-cbf :

Cell body fibre tracts from the midline neurons

M-CBG :

Medial cell body glial cell

M-CG :

Medial channel glial cell (cluster)

M-ISNG :

Medial intersegmental nerve root glial cell

M-SNG :

Medial segmental nerve root glial cell

NG :

Nerve root glia (glial cell)

nho:

Neurohemal organ

NPG :

Neuropilar glia (glial cell)

PBS :

phosphate-buffered saline

PBT :

PBS with Triton-X

pc :

Posterior commissure

pct :

Cell body fibre tracts to the posterior commissure

PEM :

PIPES-EGTA-Mg S04 buffer

PG :

Peripheral glia (glial cell)

PNG :

Perineurial glia (glial cell)

RT :

room temperature

SaGl :

Satellite glia

SBC :

Segment boundary cell

SNG :

Segmental nerve root glia (glial cell)

SNR :

Segmental nerve root

SPG :

Subperineurial glia (glial cell)

TpGl :

Transport glia

TrGl :

tracheal glia

V :

Ventral

VL-CBG :

Ventral lateral cell body glial cell

VI-SPG :

Ventral lateral subperineurial glial cell

VNC :

Ventral nerve cord

vt :

Vertical cell body fibre tracts to the dorsal neuropile

VUM :

Ventral unpaired median

V-CG :

Ventral channel glial cell

V-IG :

Ventral interface glial cell

V-MG :

Ventral midline glial cell (cluster)

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  1. Kei Ito

    Present address: ERATO Project, Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life Sciences, Minami-Ooya 11, Machida, 194, Tokyo, Japan

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  1. Institut für Genetik, Universität Mainz, Saarstr. 21, D-55122, Mainz, Germany

    Kei Ito, Joachim Urban & Gerhard Martin Technau

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  1. Kei Ito
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  2. Joachim Urban
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Ito, K., Urban, J. & Technau, G.M. Distribution, classification, and development ofDrosophila glial cells in the late embryonic and early larval ventral nerve cord. Roux's Arch Dev Biol 204, 284–307 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02179499

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