Cytogenetic studies in three Pimelodella meeki populations (Pisces, Pimelodidae) from Tibagi River basin (Brazil).

We analyzed cytogenetically specimens of Pimelodella meeki from Tibagi River at Limoeiro (LM) and from two tributaries, Couro do Boi (CB) and Gabriel da Cunha (GC) Rivers. All specimens presented 2n=46 chromosomes, which were the karyotypes composed by 15 pairs metacentric (M) + 6 pairs submetacentric (SM) + 2 pairs subtelocentric (ST). In specimens of GC, CB, and LM, the results of analyses of the nucleolus organizer regions (NORs), done by means of AgNO3 and CMA3 staining, showed that they are identical, located in terminal position on the short arm of a SM chromosome pair, and they were observed to be a size heteromorphism in some metaphase plates. FISH with 18S rDNA probe yielded evidence for these regions but not for the size variation, indicating that they are not due to a greater number of NOR cistrons in one of the homologue chromosomes. An interesting characteristic of these regions is that they could appear divided in blocks, as evidenced by all the techniques. This work makes clear the necessity for more deeply systematic studies, because of the confused taxonomic situation of the genus Pimelodella.