Probing the meiotic mechanism of intergenomic exchanges by genomic in situ hybridization on lampbrush chromosomes of unisexual Ambystoma (Amphibia: Caudata).

The meiotic mechanism of unisexual salamanders in the genus Ambystoma was previously explained by observing lampbrush chromosomes (LBCs). In polyploid unisexual females, a pre-meiotic endomitotic event doubles the chromosome number so that, after meiotic reduction, the mature eggs have the same ploidy as the female. It was assumed that synapses during meiotic I prophase, which result in observed bivalents, join duplicated sister chromosomes. Previous studies also found LBC quadrivalents in some oocytes that could be explained by occasional synapses between homologs. The discovery of widespread intergenomic exchanges among unisexual populations has prompted new speculations on this meiotic mechanism. Synapses that involve homeologous chromosomes may be frequent during meiosis and could be responsible for intergenomic exchanges and the high embryonic mortality of unisexuals. Furthermore, LBC quadrivalents may be established by associations between homeologous rather than homologous chromosomes. The present study investigated these two important aspects pertaining to the mechanism of intergenomic exchanges: the frequency of homeologous synapses and the relationship between homeologous associations and meiotic quadrivalents. We applied genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) on LBCs from oocytes of 14 triploid and two tetraploid unisexual females. Homeologous bivalents were not observed, and all 13 LBC quadrivalents that we found were the result of homologous synapses and were not associated with any homeologous or exchanged LBCs. Intergenomic exchanges were used as markers to compare the same chromosomes at meiotic diplotene and mitotic metaphase stages. We conclude that contemporary intergenomic exchanges are very rare, and no direct link exists between intergenomic exchanges and high embryonic mortality. The actual mechanisms and evolutionary implications of intergenomic exchanges appear to be complicated and difficult to assess. The application of GISH-type molecular cytogenetic techniques will help to improve our understanding of the role that intergenomic interactions play in the persistence of unisexual Ambystoma and other unisexual vertebrates.