Is it possible to use a manual Syringe for microinjection?

Model Organism: Worms Methods & Reagents
1

Hi all,
We are planning to install a whole new setup for microinjection in the lab. The sale representative from Nikon proposed a manual injector with a syringe. Of course, this kind of injector is cheaper than an automated pressurized injector like the eppendorf femtojet so I would like to know if it is possible to use this kind of injector for C. elegans microinjection.
(see http://products.narishige-group.com/group1/IM-9B/injection/english.html for the manual microinjector and http://products.narishige-group.com/individual/syringe/syringe_en.html for the syringe - SYR-12).
The manual injector works without nitrogen gas tank. In theory, the DNA is sucked by manually creating a partial vacuum in the syringe (by turning a wheel that moves the piston backward). To inject, the DNA is pushed back by manually turning the wheel the other way around (the piston moves forward).
Has anybody already used this kind of system? Is it possible to use this kind of injector with worms? Or does microinjection only work with pressurized injection systems?

Any suggestion would be very helpful!
Many thanks,

Rosina

2

Interesting . this remind me to do microinjection on fish
previously using manual Syringe. I have never used it on elegans;
my guess , you know , work but less efficiency. Good luck!

3

Yes, it is possible, worked fine for us. We used 50ml syringe.

We didn’t suck DNA with the manual syringe, instead we loaded DNA from the tale of the needle using micro capillary.

4

Many thanks for your answers!