Mid-pachytene chromomere maps of human autosomes

Abstract

Using a method of chromosome preparation which yielded pachytene spermatocytes with exceptionally well spread bivalents, we undertook detailed chromomere analysis of each of the 22 autosomal bivalents stained with orcein or quinacrine. A maximum of 442 chromomeres were recognized and mapped at mid-pachytene. The chromomere maps of pachytene chromosomes presented here corresponded well with the high resolution banding maps of somatic chromosomes at the 850 band stage described in the International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature (ISCN, 1981). Our observations of other features of the pachytene chromosomes, such as the parameres, also agree well with previous reports.