Structure and variability of nucleolar organizer regions in Parodontidae fish

Abstract

Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) were studied in mitotic chromosomes of four species of fish of family Parodontidae: Parodon tortuosus, Apareiodon affinis, Apareiodon ibitiensis, and Apareiodon piracicabae. All four species exhibited only a single nucleolar chromosome pair in their karyotypes. Intraspecific differences were observed in the size of these chromosomes; however, these were not very clear for A. affinis and A. piracicabae, Apareiodon piracicabae exhibited two clearly visible NORs in each of the nucleolar chromosomes, which was the only configuration practically found in this species. This trait therefore predominates in a homozygous condition in the population investigated. Regions of constitutive heterochromatin adjacent to the two NORs were detected. Possible mechanisms that may have originated the two NORs are discussed.Key words: nucleolar organizing regions, fish.