title: Correlation between centromere and chromosome length in human male pronuclear chromosomes: ultrastructural analysis.
abstract: Ultrastructural and morphometric analyses of centromeric regions by scanning and transmission electron microscopy have been performed in chromosomes from male pronuclei obtained by heterologous fertilisation of hamster oocytes with human spermatozoa. In 1308 of 1323 chromosomes analysed, the primary constriction showed a defined biconcave constriction of variable length (0.56-1.34 microns) and constant width (0.64-0.7 micron). A positive correlation was observed between centromeric length and chromosome length. In some chromosomes, the primary constriction appears as decondensed regions of variable length (1.6-2.51 microns) composed of chromatin fibres with a minimum diameter of 30 nm.
authors.affiliation: Unitat Biologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Martorell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Márquez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egozcue
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002503:Centromere / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006224:Cricetinae; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin