[The effect of chemical mutagens on the chromatin properties of mouse spermatogenic cells].

The main components of chromatin (DNA and protamine-like proteins) were studied in the Dipin- and NMU-treated mouse spermatogenic cells using quantitative cytochemistry. Marked variation of DNA content and deficiency of the basic nuclear proteins have been shown in epididymal spermatozoa developed from cells, which were at the moment of treatment either at the early prophase I or at intermediate stages of spermiogenesis. These stages are, respectively, one of genetically most sensitive stages and a stage of active synthesis of spermiospecific proteins, which play an important role in condensation and stabilization of gamete chromatin. The combined use of DNAse I and Feulgen reaction allowed us to obtain new data about cytochemical properties of chromatin in the other types of mouse germ cells after treatment with chemical mutagens.