The synaptinemal complex in Rhoeo spathacea.

Abstract

The synaptinemal complex in meiocytes of Rhoeo spathacea is described. Unpaired zygotene chromosomes do not exhibit well defined axial cores under the ordinary fixations of electron microscopy and appear diffuse. However, the axial core is defined by ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (PTA) although it does not respond to uranyl-EDTA-lead. Thus the core appears to contain histone but not RNA and presents a condition which is modified later in pairing when lateral elements of the synaptinemal complex respond positively to both tests. The total number of attachments of synaptinemal complexes to the nuclear envelope was determined in several nuclei from serial sections. Eleven of the twelve possible attachments were found in one nucleus. It thus seems certain that all must be so attached. In the same manner all chromosomes can be seen to have an attachment to a chromocentre. Chromocentres are often very large and compound in that two kinds of heterochromatin can be distinguished. These states of chromatin within the chromocentre are considered to be a function of the degree of condensation. Segments of synaptinemal complexes are distributed randomly through sections of pachytene nuclei and long uncoiled segments of complexes are frequently found in or near the centres of median nuclear sections. Synaptinemal complexes are also found in chromocentres. Our findings suggest that on completion of pairing, which begins distally, homologous chromosomes in Rhoeo are paired throughout their entire lengths, rather than in small terminal segments only.