Dependence of transdetermination frequency on the developmental stage of cultured imaginal discs of Drosophila melanogaster
Lee, L.W.; Gerhart, J.C.
Developmental Biology 35(1): 62-82
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-1606 PMID: 4207112 DOI: 10.1016/0012-1606(73)90007-9
Accession: 042758945
Male foreleg tissue from prepupal stages of Drosophila melanogaster was tested for its capacity to grow when cultured in the adult fly hemocoel and for its capacity, after culture, to produce adult cuticular structures when differentiated in a metamorphosing larva. Evaginated, segmented leg tissue from 8-hr-old prepupae (at 25°C), still retained the capacity to grow well in culture. Growth was, however, restricted to cells of the proximal half of the leg. Tissue from 11- and 24-hr stages (pupal ecdysis at 11 hr) was not successfully cultured. Cultured proximal halves of 8 hr prepupal legs frequently differentiated not only proximal structures, but also distal structures, such as sex combs and claws, indicating regeneration of missing leg structures during the culture period. Transdetermination to wing tissue occurred only rarely (once in 90 implants) whereas third-instar leg tissue in culture transdetermined frequently (50% of the implants) to wing, even though growth of tissue of the two stages was equivalent. Identical results were obtained with third-instar foreleg discs evaginated in vitro with β-ecdysone. This is the first in vitro treatment reported to reduce transdetermination frequency, without affecting growth proportionately. These results indicate that cell proliferation in culture, while probably a necessary condition for transdetermination, is not a sufficient condition. The developmental stage of the cultured tissue strongly affects the frequency of transdetermination.