Random arrangement of mitotic chromosomes in radial metaphases of the Indian muntjac.

The positioning of metaphase chromosomes of the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) in the radial metaphase array was investigated using two methods for examining cells. Large numbers of radial metaphase figures were obtained by mitotic shake-off. Treatment with hypotonic solution, fixation, and spreading onto glass slides did not disrupt the radial metaphase configuration of a proportion of the cells. Analysis of 567 cells for the arrangement of six of the seven muntjac chromosomes revealed a random positioning of each chromosomes within the radial array. These results were corroborated by results obtained from 101 living cells oriented with microneedles to enable examination of radial metaphases with phase-contrast microscopy.