Male meiotic prophase in Didelphis albiventris

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Abstract
An analysis of the male meiotic prophase in the white-eared opossum, Didelphis albiventris Lund (2n = 22) (Marsupialia, Didelphidae), is presented. Results obtained through the use of three methods: 1) cell spreading for light microscopy; 2) thin section for electron microscopy; and 3) microspreading of synaptonemal complexes (SCs) for electron microscopy, revealed the same pattern of changes. Measurements of mitotic chromosomes and SCs also were in close agreement. These observations led to a detailed morphological characterization of melotic stages in this species. A delay of pairing in the sex chromosomes, the absence of a SC between the X and Y axes and the presence of sharp polarization in the autosomal bivalents were observed. From these and other data it is concluded that American and Australian marsupials share a unique palring mechanism in the XY pair.

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