Fluorescent Cell Staining Methods for Living Hypsibius exemplaris Embryos

Abstract

The tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris was chosen as a model system in part because animals and embryos are optically clear at all stages, facilitating the visualization of events in living material. Here we report new methods for introducing fluorescent dyes into developing H. exemplaris embryos, including methods for fluorescently marking mitochondria, lysosomes, membranes, and nuclei. The development of these techniques suggests approaches for attempting to introduce other molecules into embryos.