[Nuclear function during early development of remote fish hybrids]

The participation of paternal genome was studied in the development of remote hybrids obtained as a result of artificial insemination of the loach (Misgurnus fossilis) eggs by the sperm of aquarial Cyprinids (Brachydanio rerio, Danio malabaricus, Barbus tetrazona, Razbora heteromorpha, Carassius auratus) and Cobitids (Acanthophtalmus kuhlii). The hybrids obtained differed at the stage of hatching both from each other and from the loach by some morphological features. To study the function of heterologous nuclei, haploid nucleocytoplasmic hybrids were obtained by means of chromosome inactivation in the loach eggs by heavy doses of X-rays. The participation of paternal genome in development was estimated by comparison of the curves of viability of diploid and haploid hybrids with those of diploid, haploid and "anuclear" loach embryos. Patterns of mortality of embryos and larvae in each hybrid combination (percentage, stage) suggest the functioning of paternal genome already at the early stages of development. The activity of hybrid and heterologous nuclei was also estimated by the onset and the intensity of morphogenetic function which was determined by the time of embryonic death following nuclear inactivation at different stages. The onset of nuclear function in all hybrids coinsides with that in the loach, except B. rerio in which it occurs somewhat earlier. The data obtained prove the participation of paternal genes in development and maintenance of viability of embryos at all developmental stages beginning from the early ones (blastula).