A Simple Apparatus for Individual C. elegans Culture

Methods Mol Biol. 2020:2144:29-45. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0592-9_3.

Abstract

We miniaturized standard, solid-phase C. elegans culture conditions to produce a system in which many isolated, individual C. elegans can be housed throughout their lives. This system, the "worm corral," is compatible with high-resolution brightfield and fluorescent microscopy, allowing imaging of fluorescent transgenes and morphological phenotypes from hatch until death. These culture devices can be constructed on the benchtop with commercially available reagents and standard laboratory equipment, making this an attainable solution for most labs.

Keywords: C. elegans; Culture system; Lifespan; Longitudinal imaging.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Phenotype

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins