Specificity of compaction in meiotic chromosomes of the female Chinese hamster

This study describes the sequential alternation of compaction and decompaction in the chromosomes of the Chinese hamster oocyte from diakinesis to metaphase II. A series of micrographs show that the compact metaphase I chromosomes become greatly extended as they enter and pass through anaphase I. Once polarized, the presumptive oocyte chromosomes become exceedingly compact and form a tightly packed mass, each chromosome assuming contours to accomodate dovetailing with its neighbors, while the chromosomes consigned to the polar body remain extended and show signs of the incipient deterioration. Prior to ovulation, the chromosomes of the mass separate and begin to decompact, in part at least, by the previously postulated mechanism of uncoiling. Following ovulation, the chromosomes are greatly extended and, as the metaphase II complement, remain in that state until the advent of fertilization. — Evidence that the compaction patterns are ordered and chromosome specific is presented by observation of the two smallest chromosomes of the complement. At telophase I those chromosomes are markedly different in size and arm ratio; at metaphase II the differences are less pronounced and at mitotic metaphase the two smallest chromosome pairs are so similar in morphology as to be indistinguishable. It is proposed, therefore, that those two chromosomes differ in their fundamental morphology as revealed at the exceedingly compact state of telophase I oocyte chromosomes. Their subsequently established resemblance at mitotic metaphase may be due to allocycly on the part of one or both, resulting in two chromosomes of apparantly similar length and arm ratio.Supported by grants from the Institute of Child Health and Development of the National Institutes of Health, 5 RO1 HDO4846 and the Damon Runyan Foundation, DRG-907.Supported in part by CA-08748 from the Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.