Figure 1
Procedures for the determination of proxies of cell size in four cell types of Drosophila melanogaster. (a) The size of epidermal cells in the leg was estimated based on the bristle number per length unit of the basitarsus (first tarsal segment) of the left second leg. The numbers represent the counts of the bristles of the eighth longitudinal row. The black line represents the distance between the middle of the root of the first and last bristles. (b) The size of epidermal cells in the wing was estimated based on the trichome number of the dorsal wing blade of the left wing in a defined circular area of 0.031 mm2 (red) located between the cubital and distal veins. (c) The size of ommatidial cells in the eye was estimated based on the mean ommatidial area determined from UV-glue replicas of eyes flattened on microscopic slides. The red asterisks indicate the incisions in the replicas. The light blue line indicates the area selected for measurement. Estimation of the total area with ommatidia; the number of ommatidia within the area are depicted with black patterns. (d) The cell size of indirect flight muscles was estimated based on the mean cross-sectional area of fibres in dorsal longitudinal muscles in the thorax. The numbers represent six muscle bundles of two rows on the right (1–6) and left (1′–6′) sides of the thorax. Cross-sections of individual fibres with well-defined borders (outlined in light green) were used for measurements.
