Preparation and analysis of spermatocyte meiotic pachytene bivalents of pigs for gene mapping

Well-spread meiotic pachytene bivalents were obtained by using the prolonged hypotonic treatment com-bined with high chloroform Carnory’s fixative solution from cells of the testes of domestic pigs. Comparison in the division index and length of pachytene bivalents with metaphase chromosomes showed that those of the former are 5 times higher and 3.42(1.87-5.98) times longer than those of the latter. Comparative studies on chromomere maps of bivalents and mitotic chromosomal G-bands were conducted by using the chromo-some 12 as a example. Sex vesicle and various shapes of synaptic sex chromosomes have been observed.Two-color PRimed IN Situ (PRINS) labeling has been conducted successfully on pachytene bivalents of pigs.