[Formation of a nuclear envelope around metaphase chromosomes exposed to hypotonic solutions]

This paper deals with the experimental verification of a previously reported suggestion on the dependence between the reconstitution of the nuclear envelope and chromosome decondensation (Zatsepina et al., 1977). It has been shown that such a dependence does exist. The treatment of cells with a hypotonic solution, making metaphase chromosomes more swollen than the control ones, induces the establishment of contacts between these chromosomes and membranes and the formation of the envelope around them. Unlike, in the presence of colchamine, that delays C-metaphase chromosome decondensation for several hours compared to normal mitosis, the nuclear envelope formation is also delayed significantly. A new method of polykaryocyte formation after hypotonic treatment is reported.