title: Nucleoli in a pronuclei-stage mouse embryo are represented by major satellite DNA of interconnecting chromosomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the arrangement of chromosomes within pronuclei-stage mouse zygotes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Location of major alpha-satellite DNA, centromeres, and telomeres, and relative location of chromosomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chromosomes appeared to be oriented inward by centromeres and to be interconnected by major alpha-satellite DNA, which appeared to be the sole DNA component of the nucleoli. This chromosomal arrangement persisted throughout interphase. Chromosomal painting failed to identify chromosomal ordering within pronuclei.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pronuclear nucleoli are represented by alpha-satellite sequences of interconnecting chromosomes that hold all chromosomes together during interphase. Chromosomes within the pronucleus are randomly positioned relative to each other.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. aa4421@wayne.edu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dozortsev
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ermilov
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Weier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liyanage
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002875:Chromosomes; D004276:DNA, Satellite / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D019319:Okadaic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014960:X Chromosome; D014998:Y Chromosome; D015053:Zygote
chemical_list: D004276:DNA, Satellite; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007211:Indoles; D019319:Okadaic Acid; C007293:DAPI