Chromosomal localization and heterochromatin association of ribosomal RNA gene loci and silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions in salmonid fishes

Ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) loci, including those of nucleolus-forming 18S, 5.8S and 28S (major) and non-nucleolus-forming 5S (minor) rDNA, were assigned using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to the embryonic chromosomes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), masu salmon (O. masou), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Japanese huchen (Hucho perryi). In these species, the minor rDNA loci were located basically on 2-4 chromosome pairs, whereas the major rDNA loci were found essentially on one chromosome pair, except for the brook trout. Its major rDNA loci were dispersed on about half of the chromosome complement, showing a considerable interindividual variation in the number and location. The major and minor rDNA loci were separated onto different chromosomes in the examined species, except for the rainbow trout, in which one chromosome pair had tandemly aligned minor and major rDNA loci. Chromosome regions containing both kinds of rDNA loci in each species were found to be stained with C-banding, showing an association of these loci with heterochromatin. Comparison of the assigned major rDNA loci and sequentially detected silver (Ag)-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in all the species revealed a considerable polymorphism in the number and size of AgNORs among or within those loci, suggesting a possible inter- or intralocus inactivation of the major rDNAs.