STUDIES ON DROSOPHILA EMBRYONIC CELLS IN VITRO I. CHARACTERISTICS OF CELL TYPES IN CULTURE *

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Abstract
Embryonic cells from Drosophila melanogaster were cultured in medium K-17 supplemented with 0.1 mg/ml of fetuin and 15% fetal bovine serum, and the behavior of embryonic cells, the characteristics of some cell types and the maintenance of the phenotypic properties of the cells were examined. Embryos at the stage with a saclike midgut (12 hr eggs) were found to be the best materials for cultivation. Muscle cells, epithelial cells, fibroblastic cells and small cells were observed as distinct migrating cell types. Muscle cells pulsated synchrónously when two or more cells made contact with each other and this pulsation continued for more than six weeks under the culture conditions employed. Epithelial cells matured with increase in size and in the number of cytoplasmic granules. Fibroblastic cells had conspicuous motile activity. Small cells were peculiar for their size of about 3 μm diameter and formed groups of about forty to fifty cells. Their characteristic shape and size suggested that they were imaginal disc cells. Cellular spheres, which consisted of epithelial cells and fibroblastic cells, and nerve fibers of nerve cells were also observed. Some mitotic figures, suggesting the occurrence of cell division, were observed in cultures of epithelial cells.