Chromosome differences in Peromyscus maniculatus populations at different altitudes in Colorado

Mice of the genus Peromyscus all have 48 chromosomes. Yet the appearance of the 48 chromosomes is highly variable from species to species (Hsu & Arrighi, 1966, 1968, 1971; Pathak et al., 1973) and even in different populations of the same species (Sparkes & Arakaki, 1966; Ohno et al., 1966; Hsu & Arrighi, 1968; Arakaki et al. 1970; Te & Dawson, 1971; Bradshaw & Hsu, 1972; Murray & Kitchin, 1976). The evolutionary significance of this variation and the mechanisms for its initiation and maintenance have been of interest for quite a few years. However, it was not until the sophisticated chromosome banding techniques became available that mammalian cytogeneticists were able to begin to study the chromosome variation of Peromyscus in some detail. The use of C-banding led Hsu & Arrighi (1971) to the finding that the short arms of chromosomes in three different species of Peromyscus contained constitutive heterochromatin. These results suggested that the variations in the number of acrocentric chromosomes in Peromyscus might be a result of different amounts of heterochromatin. Later studies (Duffey, 1972; Waterbury, 1972; and Pathak et al., 1973) were also consistent with this hypothesis.However, it was soon discovered that not all chromosomal differences among Peromyscus populations are due to heterochromatin changes. Studies by Arighi et al. (1976) and Murray & Kitchin (1976) showed that some chromosomal differences between species and subspecies of Peromyscus are due to pericentric inversions. Thus, it appears that both inversions and the addition of heterochromatin are involved in the evolution of the karyotype of Peromyscus.The purpose of our study was to investigate the chromosomes of Peromyscus maniculatus in different populations in Colorado (U.S.A.) and to test for relationships involving an altitudinal gradient. In the first part of this study, orcein stained chromosomes from three subspecies of mice sampled at nine different altitudes were examined for karyotype variability. In the second part of the study, karyotypes of two subspecies (P. m. rufinus and P. m. luteus), representing high and low altitude populations were examined with Q banding to determine the mechanisms responsible for chromosomal differences.     

Cytogenetic studies of Hynobiidae (Urodela). IV. DNA replication bands (R-banding) in the genus Hynobius and the banding karyotype of Hynobius nigrescens Stejneger

The R-banding technique of Dutrillaux et al. (1973) was modified in order to analyze the chromosomes of salamanders in the genus Hynobius. Embryonic cells of Hynobius nigrescens Stejneger from Nakakubiki County, Niigata Prefecture, and Hakui County, Ishikawa Prefecture, were cultured in medium containing 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Banded metaphases were obtained by the FPG (fluorescent-plus-Giemsa) technique (Perry and Wolff, 1974), with slight modifications. With this modified R-banding technique, multiple, clear DNA replication bands were obtained on the chromosomes, and 18 of 28 chromosome pairs could be identified easily by their replication patterns in embryos collected from Nakakubiki County. A distinct heteromorphism in banding pattern was detected on the long arm of chromosome 9 in these embryos, but the frequency of this variant was too low for chromosome 9 to be a sex chromosome. Chromosomes 1-14, except for 6, 12 (for which the data were not satisfactory), and 9 (the variant type from Nakakubiki County), had the same replication patterns in embryos obtained from Nakakubiki and Hakui Counties.     

E-1 chromosome abnormality in lymphatic leukaemia

Summary Karyotypes of 6 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia were examined (lymphocytes). Chromosomes of one patient showed abnormality in the form of a structural mosaicism concerning the E group. Karyotype analysis showed in 70 p.c. of metaphases an unusual chromosome in the E group, morphologically very similar to C group chromosomes.(Director: Prof. Dr. med. M. Kedra)     

Cytogenetics of three breeds of river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.), with evidence of a fragile site on the X chromosome

The cytogenetic study of 182 river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L., 2n = 50) of Murrah, Mediterranean and Jaffarabadi breeds, from the State of S?o Paulo, was carried out to characterize their chromosomes and to detect possible chromosomal abnormalities. The karyotypes were indistinguishable with conventional staining as well as with C and replication R banding techniques. In about 44% of the sample (8 males and 72 females), an X marker chromosome due to a fragile site was shown. The frequency of metaphases expressing the fragility site on the X was highly variable, from 2.86 to 41.03%. In females, the fragile site, rarely appeared on both X chromosomes. Most of the metaphases showed only 1 marker chromosome. In R-banded metaphases using 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) treatment, it corresponded in general to the late replicating X chromosome. No correlation between the X fragile site and altered phenotype was found. Structural and numerical chromosome rearrangements were ruled out in the present sample of buffalo.     

C-banding patterns inSalmo trutta,a species of tetraploid origin

Salmo trutta is a species of tetraploid origin in the process towards diploidization. By their C-banding pattern, some chromosomes demonstrated homology in the disomic stage, whereas others are tetrasomic. An attempt is made to arrange a karyotype according to this presumptive homology. AsS. irideus (Ohno et al., 1965), andS. salar (Roberts, 1968),S. trutta showed inter- and intra-individual Robertsonian variation. 53 analysed metaphases showed chromosome counts ranging from 77 to 82. The chromosome arm count (FN) was found to be consistently 102.     

Partial trisomy 4q syndrome: Case report and review

Summary In the course of chromosome studies of atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima using the trypsin-G-banding and Q-banding methods, a 40-year-old male was found to have an abnormal banding pattern in the long arm of a chromosome 7, although no such abnormality was detected by ordinary staining method. Since all other chromosomes apparently had normal banding patterns, the abnormality was determined to be a paracentric inversion of a chromosome 7, which is described as 46,XY,inv(7)(q22q31). This is the first demonstration of a possible paracentric inversion in man.     

Pattern of repetitive DNA of the chromosomes of Microtus agrestis

The distribution of repetitive DNA in the chromosomes of Microtus agrestis was studied with the method for demonstrating constitutive heterochromatin given by Yunis et al. (1971) and the reassociation technique described by Schnedl (1971). All autosomes can be individually recognized by means of the position of their bands. The euchromatic segment of the X1 chromosome shows the same banding pattern as the corresponding segment of X2 which consists of facultative heterochromatin. The short arms of the Y chromosome are not deeply stained with either method and therefore do not contain noticeable amounts of repetitive DNA. The relative distances between the bands remain constant during chromosome contraction in mitosis.     

Non-random association of human acrocentric chromosomes

Summary The association of human acrocentric chromosomes was found to be nonrandom using fluorescence technic.The occurrence of chromosomes D13-15 in Robertsonian rearrangement has been shown to be non-random (Hecht et al., 1968). Ohno et al. (1961) have postulated these rearrangements might be related to acrocentric association. In two studies (Nakagame, 1969; Shaw et al., 1969), however, a random distribution of the D group chromosomes in association was found by autoradiography in lymphocytes. The recently described fluorescence technic (Caspersson et al., 1971) permits a reliable identification of each of the 23 pairs and we would like to report the results of our re-examination of acrocentric association by this method.

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Zusammenfassung Die Assoziation menschlicher akrozentrischer Chromosomen hat sich als nicht zufällig erwiesen. Es wurde die Fluorescenztechnik benutzt.

     

Reciprocal translocation and the Philadelphia chromosome

Summary We examined metaphases from three patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia and a typical Philadelphia chromosome with one chromosome 9 as the recipient to determine whether the 9q+ 22q- translocation is reciprocal. Good quality G-banded photographs of the chromosomes concerned were subjected to light absorption density analysis. This provided enlarged tracings corresponding to the relevant chromosome regions and so facilitated accurate measurement. This technique has unambiguously shown that the typical Philadelphia chromosome results from a reciprocal translocation and that probably no material is gained or lost in the exchange. Furthermore, in a total of six patients for whom sequential G and C banding was performed, the chromosome 9 with the largest block of centromeric heterochromatin received the translocated material. We offer tentative explanations for this curious observation.     

Cytogenetic characterization of Chinese hamster-sheep somatic cell hybrids

The methods used to characterize cytogenetically Chinese hamster x sheep somatic cell hybrids have been reported. G and C banding patterns on hybrid metaphases allowed the discrimination between hamster and sheep chromosomes, and in addition to establish the unidirectional loss of sheep chromosomes in hybrid cells.     

Karyotype and chromosomal banding pattern in Heteropeza pygmaea

The chromosomes of somatic and germ line cells of female embryos produced by paedogenesis were studied. The haploid set in somatic cells consists of one long submetacentric chromosome, one large acrocentric, one medium metacentric and two small acrocentrics. The length vs arm index karyogram makes it possible to distinguish all but the two pairs of small acrocentric chromosomes. — Attempts were made to develope a method for banding pattern visualization. The best result was obtained using trypsin which induced banding in the chromosomes of the somatic cells and occasionally also of the germ line cells. The resulting banding patterns were frequently not identical in members of a chromosome pair. There was also a variation between metaphases within an embryo as well as from different embryos. Some tentative explanations for these results are discussed.     

Screening for minute deletions in patients with suspected cri-du-chat syndrome and apparently normal karyotype

Summary Measurement studies were carried out on the B-group chromosomes in three patients with suspected cri-du-chat syndrome, four karyotypically confirmed cases of the syndrome and three normal subjects. None of the propositi showed a detectable short-arm deletion. Within the four cases with obvious short arm deletion the amount of the deletion varies to a high degree. In addition to the technique of chromosome measurement proposed by other authors (e.g. Warburton et al., 1967, 1969; Miller et al., 1969), we present another method easely to apply for screening purposes in cases in which a deletion is not readily detectable, blind studies were unsuccessful, or when the amount of the deletion ought to be demonstrated.

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Zusammenfassung Messungen der B-Chromosomen wurden in Metaphasen verschiedener Probanden durchgeführt: 1. drei Patienten mit Verdacht auf Cri du Chat-Syndrom ohne sichtbare Defizienz am kurzen Arm von Chromosom 5; 2. vier Patienten mit deutlich erkennbarer Defizienz; 3. drei gesunde Vergleichspersonen mit unauffälligem Karyotyp. Eine Deletion war in keinem der Verdachtsfälle nachweisbar. In der Gruppe mit Defizienz zeigte sich eine erhebliche Variation im Ausmaß des deletierten Segments. In Ergänzung zu Methoden der Chromosomenmessung anderer Autoren (vgl. Warburton et al., 1967, 1969; Miller et al., 1969) wird eine weitere einfache Methode angewendet, die unter geringem Aufwand in Zweifelsfällen Aufschluß über das Vorhandensein und Ausmaß einer Deletion am kurzen Arm eines B-Chromosoms geben kann.

     

Karyotyping of Brassica napus L. Based on C0t-1 DNA Banding by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

In order to precisely recognize and karyotype Brassica napus L. chromosomes, C0t-1 DNA was extracted from its genomic DNA, labeled with biotin-1 1-dUTP and in situ hybridized. The hybridized locations were detected by Cy3-conjugated streptavidin. Specific fluorescence in situ hybridization （FISH） signal bands were detected on all individual chromosome pairs. Each chromosome pair showed specific banding patterns. The B. napus karyotype has been constructed, for the first time, on the basis of both Cot-1 DNA FISH banding patterns and chromosome morphology.     

Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis First Isolation of Virus from Fish in Norway

Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is a disease of salmonid fishes. It has been reported in many countries throughout the world (M’Gonigle 1940, Wood et al. 1955, Besse & Kinkelin 1965, Vestergård Jørgensen & Bregnballe 1969, Sano 1971, Ball et al 1971, Ljungberg & Vestergård Jørgensen 1972, Schlotfeldt et al. 1975). Outbreaks of the disease can cause serious losses in populations of hatchery reared salmonids, the mortality rate varying between 10 and 90 % (Vestergård Jørgensen & Kehlet 1971). There are at least four different serotypes of the virus distinguished by neutralization tests (Wolf et al. 1968). Twenty-five isolates of IPN virus in Denmark proved to represent only two serotypes (Sp and Ab) (Vestergård Jørgensen & Kehlet). The present paper reports the first isolation of IPN virus from the stock at a fish farm in Norway.     

Populational polymorphisms in silver staining of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in human acrocentric chromosomes

Summary The Ag stainability of the nucleolus organizer region (NOR) was studied in the acrocentric chromosomes identified by Q banding of cultured lymphocytes in 41 karyotypically normal persons (33 males and 8 females) originating from southeast Estonia. The data obtained are compared with those established earlier for a combined Vienna-Ulm population of 51 karyotypically normal persons (see Mikelsaar et al., 1977a). Significant differences between the two populations in the frequency and patterns of Ag-positive NORs were found. The following findings were most striking: the frequency of Ag-positive NORs in chromosome 14 and in the totals was significantly lower in the Estonian population than in the Vienna-Ulm population (P<0.01). The average modal number of Ag-positive NORs per individual was 7.8 in the Estonian population and 8.7 in the Vienna-Ulm sample (P<0.01). If the data of the two populations were combined the frequency of positive NORs was significantly (P<0.05) lower in chromosome 22 than in 13,15, and 21, but not 14.     

A sequence of seventy-three nucleotides from the coliphage R17 genome

1. A sequence of 73 nucleotides of the RNA genome from coliphage R17 was determined. It can be read through in only one translational frame. The fragment is not part of the coatprotein cistron (Min Jou et al., 1972), nor does it come from the untranslated sequences described previously (Steitz, 1969; Nichols, 1970; Cory et al., 1970; de Wachter et al., 1971; Contreras et al., 1971; Cory et al., 1972). It contains two sequences of 23 and 24 nucleotides, 22 of which are identical. This kind of reiteration is the first one found in bacteriophage nucleic acid. 2. Improved conditions were found and tested for blocking oligonucleotides with carbodi-imide and cleaving by ribonuclease A at cytidylate residues. 3. A synthetic medium is described which allows labelling in vivo with (32)P to give specific radioactivities higher than those obtained in the procedures used previously.     

Mechanic stimulation of the soles support zones as a countermeasure of the contractile properties decline under microgravity conditions

Decrease in muscle contractility is an inevitable consequence of exposure in microgravity. A wealth of currently accumulated facts is indicative of profound modifications in structure and function of the skeletal muscles in the absence of gravity. Investigations with humans during space flights of varying duration (L.I. Kakurin et al., 1971; I.B. Kozlovskaya et al., 1984, 1987, 1991;.), ground-based simulation studies (A.M. Genin et al., 1969; L.S. Grigorieva et al., 1983), and numerous experiments with animals (E.I. IIyina-Kakueva et al., 1979; O.M. Edgerton et al 1991; B.S. Shenkman et al., 1994) made it evident that removal of gravitational loading is fraught with significant reductions in the contractile properties of muscular fibers, especially noticeable in muscles-extensors. Results of ground-based simulation studies led to the hypothesis that changes in muscle contractility developing already after few days in microgravity conditions are consequent to reduction in support afferentation that plays an important role in initiation and maintenance of the activity of tonic motor units (A.V. Kirenskaya et al., 1986). In view of the above, an idea has been proposed to prevent losses in tonic muscles contractility by application of artificial support. Testing of this hypothesis was the theme of the present investigation.     

Human cells in suspension. 1 Human lymphoid and granulopoietic cells in primary and secondary cultures: effects of in vitro induction and prolonged methanol acetic acid fixation on metaphase chromosome structure.

Modifications of Hungerford's method (1965) for production of chromosomal slides from human lymphoid cells in culture have been developed. Modified in vitro induction of banding and uncoiling has been used to produce chromosomal slides from human neoplastic cells of granulopoietic origin. The chromosomes are well spread and appear either long, thin and segmented or uncoiled. It is suggested that it is the combined action of the prolonged fixation used, and the in vitro induction, which leads to the observed structural alteration of the chromosomes. A method for increasing the yield of metaphase cells when working with bone marrow has been developed on the basis of culturing the granulopoietic cells in medium containing colony stimulating factor (CSF). Comparative analysis of metaphases from primary and secondary cultures of bone marrow cells showed that the culturing conditions for the secondary cultures do not induce chromosome abnormalities in the cells during the growth period.     

Chromosome Banding Patterns in Some Indian Pulses

By using the Giemsa C-banding technique, chromosome bandingpatterns on the somatic chromosomes of eight important pulsecrops, pea, lentil, guar (cluster bean), chick pea, pigeon pea,mung bean (green gram), urd (black gram) and cowpea have beenstudied. Each species has a characteristic C-banding pattern.The significance of such banding patterns which correlate withthe position of pachytene knobs, in chromosome identification,and in assigning relationships at the cytological level in thepulses of genus Vigna is stressed. Chromosome banding, Giemsa C-banding, pulse crops, Pisum sativum L., garden pea, Lens culinaris Medik, lentil, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub., guar, Cicer arietinum L., chick pea, gram, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp., pigeon pea, Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek, mung bean, Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper, urd, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp, cowpea     

AluI and HaeIII restriction enzyme banding patterns of Macaca fuscata and Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus chromosomes

AluI and HaeIII restriction endonuclease banding patterns were analyzed in Macaca fuscata and Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus chromosomes. AluI produced C-negative bands in both species of monkeys, while HaeIII induced the appearance of C-negative bands on Macaca chromosomes and of simultaneous G + C bands on Cercopithecus metaphases.