A clonal analysis of cell lineage and growth in the male and female genital disc ofDrosophila melanogaster.

Abstract

InDrosophila, the terminalia (i.e. internal and external analia and genitalia, except the gonads) are formed by the genital disc. Comparative studies suggested that this disc may have evolved through fusion of the imaginal primordia of the last 3 or 4 abdominal segments. The present report describes the clonal relationships within the complex genital disc.Genetically marked cell clones were induced in male and female embryos and larvae heterozygous for cell marker mutations. 1) Frequencies and sizes of clones suggest that the embryonic disc anlage consists of 14-17 precursor cells: 4-6 for the analia, some 7 for the male genitalia, and 3-4 for the female genitalia. These cells grow exponentially during larval development. 2) In both sexes, the clones were confined to either analia or genitalia, suggesting two separate cell lineages already established at blastoderm. 3) Internal and external genitalia remain in the same compartment at least up to 60 h (end of first instar). 4) A clonal restriction appeared around 84 h (mid second instar), separating a dorsal from a ventral part in the male genitalia. The ventral compartment comprises the ventral part of the lateral plate and clasper, hypandrium, and all internal genitalia. No such boundary was detected in the female. 5) In the female, analia and parovaria originate from the same precursors; another cell lineage forms eighth tergites, vaginal plates, oviduct, receptacle, and spermathecae. 6) In female analia, dorsal and ventral plate share common precursors at least up to 84 h. A medio-lateral boundary may appear at 84 h in the ventral anal plate. No clonal restriction was found in the male analia. 7) At all times, clones could cross between left and right sides of the symmetrical terminalia; they consistently did so via ventral structures. 8) The results are discussed in a phylogenetic context, and we propose that the clonal relations reflect the evolution of the complex genital disc.