Analysis of Dendrite Development in Drosophila Embryos

INTRODUCTION

Dendrite morphological diversity helps to define the properties of neural circuits by influencing circuit organization and information processing. Dendrite development has been shown to be driven by a combination of cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors. However, much remains to be discovered about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that give rise to unique yet highly stereotyped dendrite arbors of diverse neuronal types. Work in the last decade has established the Drosophila system as an excellent model for studies of dendrite morphogenesis. This protocol describes the preparation of Drosophila embryos so that dendrite development can be assessed by confocal microscopy. The advantage of studies of embryonic stages is the relative ease of screening candidate genes and the ability to examine large numbers of neurons for phenotypes. This method is a basic and indispensable component of the set of techniques used for screening genes involved in dendrite morphogenesis.