New Microfluidics-based Workflow Enables High-resolution Lipid Imaging In C. Elegans

Understanding really fat molecules are distributed and usability successful surviving organisms is cardinal to uncovering mechanisms of aging, disease, and metabolism. Caenorhabditis elegans, a transparent roundworm, is simply a wide utilized exemplary for studying fat retention owed to its familial similarity to humans and well-defined anatomy. However, visualizing lipids astatine precocious solution successful specified a mini organism has posed a awesome method challenge.

A investigation squad astatine Okayama University, Japan, led by Professor Masazumi Fujiwara and his PhD student Ms. Sara Mandic, successful collaboration pinch Professor Ron M. A. Heeren of Maastricht University, Netherlands, has developed a caller microfluidics-based workflow that enables high-resolution, 3D lipid imaging successful C. elegans. Their findings were published successful Volume 15 of nan diary Scientific Reports connected July 8, 2025.

The squad mixed matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass-spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) pinch accepted lipid staining techniques to representation some nan personality and location of lipid molecules wrong nan worm. To sphere soul structures, young big nematodes were aligned and immobilized connected a custom-designed microfluidic chip, embedded successful a gelatin–carboxymethyl cellulose mixture, sectioned utilizing a cryotome and analyzed done MALDI-MSI. Each conception was besides subjected to Oil Red O staining, which highlights neutral fats, to corroborate and complement nan imaging results. "This is nan first clip we've been capable to representation lipid distributions successful C. elegans pinch specified spatial solution while preserving soul structures," explains Ms. Mandic.

Conventional lipid study techniques often impact trade-offs-either staining lipids without identifying them aliases measuring them without preserving spatial information. This caller method does both: it detects circumstantial lipid molecules and shows wherever they are located wrong nan body. The expertise to clasp nan soul anatomy of nan worm during sample mentation is cardinal to knowing really lipids behave successful different tissues. "Our method gives researchers a reliable measurement to study fat dynamics successful circumstantial tissues of a azygous nematode," explains Ms. Mandic.

Using their method, nan squad identified respective lipids that clustered successful chopped anatomical regions, including nan pharynx, intestine, and reproductive system. For instance, 1 lipid linked to cholesterin metabolism was recovered chiefly successful nan pharynx and anterior intestine, suggesting a imaginable domiciled successful nutrient absorption. These findings, made imaginable by nan method's structural preservation, supply valuable penetration into really fat molecules are organized and usability crossed different parts of nan worm.

The researchers besides extended their study beyond two-dimensional imaging. By aligning and stacking consecutive insubstantial slices, they created three-dimensional reconstructions of individual nematodes, offering a full-body position of lipid distribution pinch singular anatomical detail. This attack allowed them to visualize really lipids are arranged passim nan full ~1 mm-long organism-something that had not been achieved astatine this level of precision before. Importantly, nan method was shown to beryllium highly reproducible. Variations betwixt individual nematodes were greater than immoderate method inconsistencies, demonstrating nan accuracy and robustness of nan workflow. "This method allows america to spot not conscionable what lipids are present, but precisely wherever they are wrong nan body-whether successful nan intestine, pharynx, aliases embryos," adds Ms. Mandic.

Because C. elegans shares galore basal biologic pathways pinch humans, this method has wide-reaching implications for biomedical research. It enables nan study of lipid behaviour successful consequence to familial mutations, biology stress, supplier treatments, and aging-all cardinal factors successful quality wellness and disease. The squad now plans to use this workflow to various C. elegans strains, including those carrying disease-related mutations, and to merge nan method pinch lipid quantification tools.

"Our activity opens nan doorway to visualizing lipid biology successful an wholly caller way-one that's precise, reproducible, and rich | successful detail," concludes Ms. Mandic. Altogether, this study equips researchers pinch a powerful instrumentality for examining fat metabolism astatine nan organ-specific level successful C. elegans, paving nan measurement for deeper insights into aging, metabolic disorders, and illness mechanisms.