Summary
The synaptonemal complex (SC), a part of the ultrastructure of the pachytene bivalent of eukaryotic organisms, is intimately connected with the pairing of homologous chromosomes. Its development, structure, and function have been studied extensively with the electron microscope during the past 20 years. A simple method of staining with silver nitrate has made it possible for us to visualize human SCs with the light microscope.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bostock, C. J., Sumner, A. T.: The eukaryotic chromosome, pp. 307–312. Amsterdam: North-Holland 1978
Chaganti, R. S. K., Jhanwar, S. C., Ehrenbard, L. T., Kourides, I. A., Williams, J. J.: Genetically determined asynapsis, spermatogenic degeneration and infertility in men. Am. J. Hum. Genet. (in press)
Comings, D. E., Okada, T. A.: Whole mount electron microscopy of meiotic chromosomes and the synaptonemal complex. Chromosoma 30, 269–286 (1970)
Counce, S. J., Meyer, G. F.: Differentiation of the synaptonemal complex and the kinetochore in Locusta spermatocytes studied by whole mount electron microscopy. Chromosoma 44, 231–253 (1973)
Evans, E. P., Breckon, G., Ford, C. E.: An air drying method for meiotic preparations from mammalian testes. Cytogenetics (Basel) 3, 289–294 (1964)
Fawcett, D. W.: The fine structure of chromosomes in the meiotic prophase of vertebrate spermatocytes. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol. 2, 403–406 (1956)
Gillies, C. B.: Synaptonemal complex and chromosome structure. Annu. Rev. Genet. 9, 91–109 (1975)
Hultén, M., Lindsten, J.: Cytogenetic aspects of human male meiosis. Adv. Hum. Genet. 4, 327–387 (1973)
Hultén, M., Solari, A. J., Skakkebaek, N. E.: Abnormal synaptonemal complex in an oligochiasmatic man with spermatogenic arrest. Hereditas 78, 105–116 (1974)
Moses, M. J.: Chromosomal structures in crayfish spermatocytes. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol. 2, 215–218 (1956)
Moses, M. J.: Synaptonemal complex. Annu. Rev. Genet. 2, 363–412 (1968)
Moses, M. J.: Synaptonemal complex karyotyping in spermatocytes of the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus). II. Morphology of the XY pair in spread preparations. Chromosoma 60, 127–137 (1977)
Moses, M. J., Counce, S. J.: Synaptonemal complex karyotyping in spreads of mammalian spermatocytes. In: Mechanisms in recombination, R. F. Grell (ed.), pp. 385–390. New York: Plenum 1974
Moses, M. J., Counce, S. J.: Analysis of synaptonemal complex karyotypes in five mammals. J. Cell Biol 70, 131a (1976)
Moses, M. J., Solari, A. J.: Positive contrast staining and protected drying of surface spreads: Electron microscopy of the synaptonemal complex by a new method. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 54, 109–114 (1976)
Moses, M. J., Counce, S. J., Paulson, D. F.: Synaptonemal complex complement of man in spreads of spermatocytes, with details of the sex chromosome pair. Science 187, 363–365 (1975)
Pathak, S., Hsu, T. C.: Silver-stained structures in mammalian meiotic prophase. Chromosoma 70, 195–203 (1979)
Pathak, S., Lau, Y. F., Drwinga, H. L.: Observations on the synaptonemal complex in Armenian hamster spermatocytes by light microscopy. Chromosoma 73, 53–60 (1979)
Quack, B., Noel, B.: The XY chromosome pair in mouse and human spermatocytes, visualized by silver staining. Nature 267, 431–433 (1977)
Westergaard, M., Wettestein, D. von: The synaptonemal complex. Annu. Rev. Genet. 6, 71–110 (1972)
Yanagibashi, K., Kusanagi, A.: Electronmicroscopic ammoniacal silver reaction for the synaptonemal complex of the mouse. Exp. Cell Res. 78, 228–230 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jhanwar, S.C., Chaganti, R.S.K. Silver-stained synaptonemal complexes of human pachytene bivalents studied by light microscopy. Hum Genet 54, 405–408 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00291588
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00291588