The outlines of clustered cells were easily detectable as they were marked by the tightly covering basal lamina (Fig. 4b). The basal lamina TSA HDAC appeared smooth with few small depressions on the surface of clustered or isolated cells (Fig. 4d). The shape and the surface of the attached oenocytes were well preserved as seen by SEM analysis of isolated oenocytes or cell clusters with broken basal lamina or

without it (Fig. 4c and d). Oenocytes were large oval shaped cells with a smooth surface with adhered cell debris detected on occasion. Their contact with the coverslip typically triggered the spreading of the cell over the substrate through small surface projections around the entire basal region (Fig. 4c and d). The cytoskeleton of Ae. aegypti oenocytes was analyzed under LCM using Phalloidin-FITC, Ku0059436 a fluorescent stain for actin filaments. Sequential confocal images from the top ( Fig. 5a) to the base ( Fig. 5b) of the same oenocyte

revealed the entire cytoskeleton and the organelle profiles. The oenocyte was distinctly fluorescent in the entire cell cytoplasm ( Fig. 5a and b) unveiling the notably non-fluorescent nuclei, as well as, dark vesicle structures of different sizes and shapes. These vesicles were distributed throughout the cytoplasm. It was also possible to observe several plasma membrane expansions (collectively known as filopodia and lamellipodia) on the oenocyte surface ( Fig. 5b). Semi-thin sections and TEM revealed that Ae. aegypti

cultured oenocytes display a central, rounded nucleus with evident nucleolus, as described for freshly processed oenocytes. Chromatin was detected as irregular granular clumps especially around the edge of the nucleus ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 6). These techniques also revealed unstained vesicles detected as non-fluorescent structures under the LCM ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 6) and these vesicles displayed different sizes and fairly uniform rounded shapes ( Fig. 6b). The cytoplasms of cultured oenocytes were also almost filled by coiled and tubular structures of the SER. On the other hand, the cultured cells displayed fewer and smaller ovoid mitochondria than the freshly processed cells ( Fig. 6d). Cultured oenocytes also displayed plasma membrane evaginations (corresponding to filopodia) science and infoldings ( Fig. 6c and d). We routinely assessed the long term primary culture (up to two months) for viability using acridine orange. Acridine orange is known as a vital stain and induces an intensely photo-active staining of nuclei of dead or dying cells. We examined nearly 300 cells obtained from three separate cultures and the average percent of viable cells was 85% (not shown). Comparatively, when these oenocytes were stained with Giemsa or observed using contrast phase microscopy, they appeared morphologically well preserved (Fig. 3a and b).