Comparison of the Chromosome Banding Pattern in the2n=56Cytotypes ofNannospalax leucodonandN. xanthodonfrom Turkey

Abstract

We present the karyotype characteristics of five cytotypes of mole rats (Nannospalax) with 56 chromosomes revealed by the C-banding and AgNOR staining analyses. We attempt to investigate if the specific distinction between the populations from Thrace (N. leucodon) and Anatolia (N. xanthodon) is reflected also in their karyotypic differentiation. The specimens from each of the five populations studied revealed a distinct karyotype which was different from those found in other populations. The fundamental number of autosomal arms varied from 68 to 72. The amount of C-heterochromatin was larger in the Thrace sample ofN. leucodoncompared to the Anatolian population ofN. xanthodon. The active NOR sites were recorded on five autosomal pairs inN. leucodon, whereas only three or four pairs bearing NOR were observed inN. xanthodon. Differences between the studied populations were quantified in the analysis of the distribution pattern of the C-positive bands and the AgNOR sites in individual chromosomes which indicated a basal position of the Thrace sample ofN. leucodonand its divergence from other studied populations. The karyotypes of the 56-chromosome populations ofN. leucodonandN. xanthodonare thus distinctly different.