Meiosis in Mesostoma ehrenbergii ehrenbergii (Turbellaria, Rhabdocoela). III. Univalent chromosome segregation during the first meiotic division in spermatocytes.

Abstract

At metaphase I of meiosis in spermatocytes of Mesostoma ehrenbergii ehrenbergii [2n = 10] three bivalents and four univalents form. The same two chromosome pairs always form the univalents. Analysis of metaphase I, anaphase I and metaphase II configurations in fixed testis material suggested that the distribution of the four univalents is not a random process but the correct segregation of one member of each pair to each pole is actively achieved before the end of metaphase I. In live preparations of testis material univalents were observed to move between the poles of metaphase I cells, eventually reaching the correct segregation. All cells observed to enter anaphase I had the correct segregation of univalents. It is proposed that the univalent movement during metaphase I is directed towards obtaining the correct segregation of univalents before the cells enter anaphase.