Chromatin organization during meiotic prophase ofBombyx mori

Chromatin organization during the early stages of male meiotic prophase inBombyx mori was investigated by electron microscopy. The analysis of nuclei prepared by the Miller spreading procedure, suggests that chromatin fibers which are 200–300 A in diameter undergo an orderly folding coincident with the formation of the synaptonemal complex. In very early stages the chromatin is released in linear arrays typical of interphase chromatin material. With time loops containing 5–25 μ of B conformation DNA, initially visualized at the periphery of early meiotic prophase nuclei, aggregate into discrete foci. These foci coalesce to form the longitudinal axis of the chromosome in conjunction with the initial appearance of the axial elements of the synaptonemal complex. At pachytene, the loops are evenly distributed along the length of the chromosome and extend radially so that in well spread preparations the chromosome has a brush-like appearance. Throughout this period nascent RNP-fibers were visualized along some of the loops.