Ultrastructural detection of kinetochores by silver impregnation

We describe a simple silver impregnation method for the ultrastructural detection of kinetochores on meiotic chromosomes of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Testes were fixed with glutaraldehyde and silver-impregnated. After Epon 812 embedding, ultrathin cutting and counterstaining with uranyl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chromosome research 1994-09, Vol.2 (5), p.369-375
Main Authors: Rufas, J S, Mazzella, C, García de la Vega, C, Suja, J A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Grasshoppers - genetics
Kinetochores - ultrastructure
Male
Meiosis
Silver Staining
Spermatocytes - ultrastructure
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Summary:We describe a simple silver impregnation method for the ultrastructural detection of kinetochores on meiotic chromosomes of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Testes were fixed with glutaraldehyde and silver-impregnated. After Epon 812 embedding, ultrathin cutting and counterstaining with uranyl acetate, sections were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The meiotic chromosomes showed differentially silver-impregnated 'ball and cup' kinetochores. Some pericentriolar material also showed silver deposits. These observations are discussed in the light of previous results obtained by light microscopy of silver-stained spermatocytes in which both kinetochores and pericentriolar material were also preferentially stained. These results suggest a role for acidic proteins in the composition of these structures.
ISSN:0967-3849
1573-6849
DOI:10.1007/bf01552796