Drosophila nerve cord culture: a tool for studying neural development

The culture of explanted neural tissues has been a useful tool for the stud y of cellular and molecular neurobiology in vertebrates. We have developed a technique for the culture of explanted ventral nerve cords from Drosophil a embryos. We have examined the morphology and dynamic behaviour of the gro wth cones that extend from these nerve cords, and the effect of calcium dep rivation on the bundling of axons that are regenerated from the explanted t issue. This technique offers a unique opportunity to combine in vitro techn iques for neuronal cell culture with the powerful techniques of genetic ana lysis that are available with Drosophila. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.