Improvements in the premature chromosome condensation technique for cytogenetic analysis

In this paper we report a combination of procedures that serve to improve the usefulness of the technique of premature chromosome condensation in cytogenetic investigations. The mitotic inducer population was preincubated in high concentrations of BrdU, and the duration of fusion was increased to yield more discrete prematurely condensed chromosomes (PCC). After fusion, chromosome preparations were treated with a combination of G- or C-banding techniques and differential staining techniques. This combination of procedures allowed unequivocal distinction between the PCC and mitotic inducer chromosomes and yielded banded G1 and G2 PCC suitable for routine cytogenetic investigations.