[Sequential staining of the polymorphic regions of human acrocentric chromosomes using different cytochemical...

The chromosome preparations of 12 normal individuals were consequently stained with four different techniques (RV, Q, C and Ag). Correlations between morphological and staining peculiarities of specific polymorphic segments of the short arms of the same acrocentrics were investigated. It was determined that except correlations for the length of satellite stalks and the size of Ag-deposits, the polymorphic signs revealed with Q-, C- and Ag-techniques appear to be independent and not correlating with each other. These data allow to think that in spite of morphological similarities between acrocentric arms, the individual chromosomes can differ in structure and properties of the nucleoprotein material available in the examined regions, which may cause a non-identical response to cytochemical treatment.