Nucleolar organizer regions in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as shown by silver staining

Abstract

Nucleolar organizer regions (NOR's) were demonstrated in metaphase chromosomes of the domestic rabbit. Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) (New Zealand white strain) using silver staining. Sequential quinacrine banding and a modification of the Ag-AS silver precipitation technique with duplicate photography allowed identification of silver staining NOR's on the short arms of chromosomes 13, 16, and 20, as well as the telomeric region of the long arms of number 21 in some cells. Chromosomes 13, 16 and 20 all have subterminal to terminal centromeres, often showed satellites and secondary constrictions, and were sometimes involved in associations.