[Reflection microscopy of interchromosomal filaments]

After Giemsa staining of metaphases, reflection analysis reveals interchromosomal filaments. Either simple or in bundles, these filaments connect two chromosomes or sometimes several of them in a chain-like fashion. The anchoring points are most often localized in telomeric regions (64%). The form and the location of the chromosomes can be modified by the traction forces at the level of the anchoring sites. For those located outside the telomeric regions, the distribution of the sites shows a good correlation with the size of the chromosomal arms, except for the group D which is overrepresented.