Synaptonemal complexes at premeiotic interphase in the mouse spermatocyte.

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Abstract
Male mice were injected i.p. with 125 .mu.Ci of [3H]thymidine at 1-h intervals and killed 1 h after the 2nd injection. Testes were prepared for bright-field and EM autoradiography. Primary spermatocytes, identified by light microscopy to be at the premeiotic interphase stage, were heavily labeled. EM examination disclosed the coincidental occurrence of synaptonemal complexes and label within the nuclei of premeiotic interphase spermatocytes, indicating synapses of homologues had begun during the S [DNA replication] phase. The significance of this finding for the traditional view of meiosis is discussed.