NOR activity, heterochromatin differentiation, and the Robertsonian polymorphism in Sus scrofa L.

Abstract

The karyotype of the European wild pig (Sus scrofa scrofa L.) was analysed by means of silver-staining and the chromomycin A3/distamycin A/DAPI fluorescent banding technique to locate active NORs and to differentiate types of C-bands. The ribosomal RNA genes are localized at the secondary constrictions of chromosomes 8 and 10. All biarmed chromosomes, with the exception of chromosome 15/17 and the Y, had a chromomycin bright centromeric region that was moderately fluorescent with distamycin A/DAPI (DA/DAPI). Conversely, all acrocentric chromosomes and the Robertsonian fusion product (15/17) exhibited DA/DAPI bright centromeric heterochromatin. The results are compared with the chromosomal staining behavior of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica L.) and discussed with respect to presumptive mechanisms of karyotypic evolution.