Abstract
Duplicate staining of human metaphase chromosomes, first with Giemsa followed by silver, revealed the presence of two small silver-stained bodies not seen in the Giemsa stained metaphases. Similar bodies were subsequently found in the metaphases of several animal groups. The size, structure, spatial relationships to the nucleus, behavior throughout the cell cycle, and apparent universal presence of these bodies suggest that they are either centrioles or associated centriolar structures. These centriole-bodies can be seen throughout the cell cycle, even in hypotonically spread C-metaphase chromosome plates. The silver stain procedure allows enough resolution to distinguish parent and daughter centriole-bodies at interphase, thus permitting visualization of the replication, maturation and separation stages of these bodies with the light microscope.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brinkley, B.R., Stubblefield, E., Hsu, T.C.: The effects of colcemid inhibition and reversal on the fine structure of the mitotic apparatus of Chinese Hamster cells in vitro. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 19, 1–18 (1967)
Chatton, E., Lwoff, A.: Imprégnation, par diffusion argentique, de l'infraciliature des ciliés marins et d'eau douce, apres fixation cytologique et sans dessication. C. R. Soc. Biol. Paris 104, 834–836 (1930)
Cleveland, L.R.: The centrioles of Pseudotrichonympha and their role in mitosis. Biol. Bull. 49, 46–53 (1935)
Cleveland, L.R.: Types and life cycles of centrioles of flagellates. J. Protozool. 4, 230–241 (1957)
Cleveland, L.R.: The centrioles of Trichonympha from termites and their functions in reproduction. J. Protozool. 7, 326–341 (1960)
Corliss, J.O.: Silver impregnation of ciliated protozoa by the Chatton-Lwoff technic. Stain Technol. 28, 97–100 (1953)
Deuton, T.E., Howell, W.M., Barrett, J.V.: Human nucleolar organizer chromosomes: satellite associations. Chromosoma (Berl.) 55, 81–84 (1976)
Goodpasture, C., Bloom, S.E.: Visualization of nucleolar organizer regions in mammalian chromosomes using silver staining. Chromosoma (Berl.) 53, 37–50 (1975)
Howell, W.M.: Visualization of ribosomal gene activity: silver stains proteins associated with rRNA transcribed from oocyte chromosomes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 62, 361–367 (1977)
Howell, W.M., Denton, T.E., Diamond, J.R.: Differential staining of the satellite regions of human acrocentric chromosomes. Experientia (Basel) 31, 260–262 (1975)
Hungerford, D.A.: Leukocytes cultured from small inocula of whole blood and the preparation of metaphase chromosomes by treatment with hypotonic KCl. Stain Technol. 40, 333–338 (1965)
Pera, F.: Simultaneous staining of the spindle apparatus and constitutive heterochromatin. Stain Technol. 49, 335–337 (1974)
Pera, F., Sperling, K.: Staining of the spindle apparatus in hyman lymphocyte and fibroblast cultures. Hum. Genet. 34, 195–197 (1976)
Stubblefield, E.: Centriole replication in a mammalian cell. In: The proliferation and spread of neoplastic cells, pp. 175–193. Baltimore, Md.: William and Wilkins Co.
Stubblefield, E., Brinkley, B.R.: Architecture and function of the mammalian centriole. In: Formation and fate of cell organelles (K.B. Warren, ed.), pp. 175–218. New York, N.Y.: Academic Press, Inc. 1967
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Howell, W.M., Hsu, T.C. & Block, B.M. Visualization of centriole-bodies using silver stain. Chromosoma 65, 9–20 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293127
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293127