The synaptic process in Locusta migratoria spermatocytes by synaptonemal complex analysis

We describe the synaptic process during meiotic prophase in spermatocytes from Locusta migratoria, using synaptonemal complex (SC) spreads analyzed by light (LM) and electron (EM) microscopy. At leptotene, a stage of short duration, unpaired axial elements begin to be assembled. Synapsis starts at zygotene, beginning usually at the terminal regions of the bivalents, either at the proximal, centromeric end or at the distal, non-centromeric end; interstitial initiation of synapsis was only occasionally observed in the longer chromosomes. Pairing is asynchronous, and shorter chromosomes are the first to complete synapsis. At pachytene all bivalents are fully synapsed. Diplotene is characterized by the progressive fragmentation of SCs; fragmentation is asynchronous, and affects mainly the longer chromosomes, while the shorter ones maintain their morphology up to late diplotene.