Demonstration of axial elements of sex vesicles of spermatocytes using Coomassie brilliant blue

The axial element of sex chromosomes in the sex vesicle of rat and mouse spermatocytes has been visualized under the light microscope by the dye Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB). After staining in the CBB solution for 3-10 minutes, the axial elements appeared as darkly stained threads in the sex vesicles, whereas in controls stained with Giemsa or carbol fuchsin, the sex vesicles were usually uniformly stained. The axial elements are best seen when chromosome preparations were made by the flame drying technique. In rat spermatocytes the staining quality could be further improved by a brief treatment with trypsin solution (0.025%). The CBB staining procedure is simple and easily controllable. The results suggest that the CBB stained material is protein in nature and is more resistant to trypsin digestion than other nuclear proteins.

Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in Chinese hamster chromosomes as visualized by Coomasie brilliant blue

Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) of Chinese hamster chromosomes have been demonstrated by using a Coomasie brilliant blue dye (CBB) method. The staining procedure involved is simple and the results are reproducible. The staining process is easily controllable because over-staining of the chromosomes seldom occurs. The CBB solution is stable (pH 3) and can be used for many days at room temperature. Contrary to the silver technique, the stained material in the NORs is resistant to acid extraction. Since it is sensitive to trypsin treatment, it is suggested that the CBB stained material is protein in nature.

Dotted chromosomes produced in sodium phosphate solution supersaturated with NaHCO3

Dotted chromosomes were consistently produced in both BrdU and non-BrdU substituted Chinese hamster cells after treatment with 1.0 M Na-phosphate solution, adjusted to pH 9.0 with a supersaturating amount of NaHCO3, and at a temperature of 80--95 degrees C. -- A series of changes in chromosome morphology was produced as the temperature of the solution was progressively increased. In BrdU-treated cells, G-banding and differentially stained sister chromatids were sequentially produced prior to the appearance of dots. In non-BrdU treated cells, only G-banding was produced before dot formation. In general, the patterns of dots correspond to the G-banding patterns. --Chromatids, with uni- or bifilarly BrdU substituted DNA or with normal DNA, required differential temperatures for the production of dots. Since the temperature required for dot formation was always slightly higher than that required for producing differentially stained chromatids, this phenomenon can be used as an important indicator for determining the optimal temperature required for revealing differentially stained chromatids.

Identification of late DNA-replicating regions in Chinese hamster chromosomes using a BrdU-Giemsa technique

Asynchronous Chinese hamster cells were labelled with BrdU for 3 h prior to harvesting the metaphase cells. The late DNA replicating sites became unifilarly BrdU-substituted as compared to the earlier replicating sites having a normal DNA constitution. Those late replicating sites were identified by pale coloration or dot formation after treatment with 1.0 M Na-phosphate solution (adjusted to pH 9.0 with supersaturated amount of NaHCO3 and at a temperature of 69-75 degrees C) and staining with Giemsa dye. Using this technique, nuclei with incorporated BrdU could be distinguished from nuclei that had not incorporated BrdU. --One of the advantages of using this technique for identification of late DNA replicating sites is that cells are treated continuously with BrdU for a short period of time before harvesting and only one sampling, rather than a series of samplings, is required to achieve a clear-cut result.

The effect of normal spleen cells on 3H-thymidine uptake by target cells in vitro

When tumour cells (line L cells) were grown in culture with syngeneic normal non-immune C3H/He mouse spleen cells or in the cell free supernatant of these spleen cells they incorporated less tritiated thymidine (3H-Tdr) than when grown by themselves. Despite this effect there was no depression in either cell growth or DNA synthesis. Autoradiographic studies revealed that the decrease of 3H-Tdr incorporation into tumour cells in the presence of spleen cells was not due to inhibition of cell entry into S phase but due to the amount of 3H-Tdr the tumour cells incorporated. Since the medium of spleen cell cultures was found to contain DNA and the addition of calf thymus DNA to fresh growth medium also resulted in decreased 3H-Tdr uptake by the tumour cells, it was concluded that line L cells utilize DNA released by spleen cells into the medium for de novo DNA synthesis. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that caution be used in interpreting decreased 3H-Tdr uptake as determined by scintillation counting as evidence for a cytostatic effect exerted by lymphoid cells or their supernatants in vitro.