Multiple core complexes in grasshopper spermatocytes and spermatids

Abstract

At meiotic prophase, the grasshopper Chorthippus longicornis has normal synaptinemal complexes inside paired homologous chromosomes. Evidence is presented that short single cores and small multiple core complexes occur inside metaphase I chromosomes. At first anaphase, interphase, and early spermatid stage, large multiple core complexes are located in the cytoplasm. It is speculated that the multiple core complexes have some structural elements in common with the synaptinemal complexes, but that different forms of pairing behavior are exhibited by the different complexes.