Polymorphism of the human Y chromosome: the evaluation of the correlation between the DNA content and the size of the heterochromatin and euchromatin.

The length of the Y chromosome with its fluorescent and non-fluorescent portion was measured in Q-banded metaphases. The same preparations were stained by Feulgen method. The DNA content and size of the Y chromosome were assessed. The length of Y chromosome was normalized by taking into account differences in contraction rate of the heterochromatin and euchromatin. It was indicated that polymorphism of the Y chromosome size and DNA content was correlated with change in length of both the heterochromatin and euchromatin.