Presence of a chromatid core in mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of grasshoppers

After using a silver staining procedure two deeply stained structures appear in spermatogonial, first and second meiotic metaphase chromosomes of grasshoppers. First of all, rounded structures of about 0.4–0.6 um in diameter, which represent kinetochores. Moreover a longitudinal axes, which runs the whole length of each chromatid and which seems to represent a core or scaffold-like structures. This axis is always in close relation with kinetochores. The homologous axes of chromosomes in first meiotic metaphase are very close together at the point were chiasmata take place.