The synaptonemal complexes (SCs) in spermatocytes of six species of fishes were detected with a combination of surface spreading and silver staining technique and observed under both light and electron microscopes. These fishes are Tilapia nilotica, T. mossambica and Mastacembelus sinensis of Perciformes. Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis, Pseudorasbora parva and Hemibarbus maculatus of Gobioninae in Cypriniformes. The formation of SCs started in Zygotene and completed at Pachytene. During the pachytene, each SC was morphologically intact, preferentially stained and attached to the nuclear envelope by a dense terminal plaque. Interlock in SCs frequently occurred in Zygotene. In several cases breakage and disentangling of interlocked lateral elements were observed. SCs disappeared in diplotene. The pairing of the SCs started at telomeres and stretched towards kinetochore. The sex determination of Mastacembelus sinensis was xx/xy. The X and Y chromosomal SCs' axes had a distinctive morphology at pachytene and were clearly distinguishable from autosomal SCs. The X and Y chromosomes begain to pair at early pachytene. The X and Y chromosome axes paired to form a length of SC that is somewhat longer than the unpaired portion at the mid-pachytene. There was a dense substance at unpaired portion. Quantitatine evaluation demonstrated that relative length and arm ratio were distinctive characteristics for each autosomal SC. The consistency of relative length and arm ratio indicates the stability of the techniques. The idiograms of SC karyotypes of three species (Tilapia niloticus, T. mossambicus and Mastacembelus sinensis) have been constructed.
Animals Fishes