Chromomycin A3 banding of the chromosomes of three species of Cervidae (red deer, fallow deer, roe deer) allows the demonstration of both centromeric constitutive heterochromatin and R-banding patterns useful for identifying all the chromosomes of a given karyotype. In all three species significant amounts of chromomycin-bright heterochromatin are present at the centromeres of all autosomes. The X chromosomes of all investigated species contained appreciable amounts of centromeric heterochromatin. AgNO3 staining was applied sequentially to detect the location of active nucleolus organizer regions (NORs). The distribution of NORs was reasonably conservative in the investigated species.

Chicken chromosomes were identified up to No. 18 by a sequential counterstain-enhanced fluorescence technique. A heterochromatin characterization of macro- and microchromosomes was performed; in general, the microchromosomes were GC-rich, but with a high degree of variation. The NORs are localized on chromosome No. 17.

A cow, trisomic for chromosome 22, became pregnant and gave birth to a karyotypically normal and healthy calf. Thus, a second example of reproductive capability in autosomal trisomies in mammals, in addition to trisomy 21 in man, is provided.

Sequential Ag NOR/G-band studies were performed on the chromosomes of 33 Austrian Al bulls. The mean number of Ag-NORs per bull karyotype was 6.06. The distribution of Ag-NORs was found to be characteristic for each individual.

A cytogenetic analysis of 112 domestic dogs led to the detection of a new Robertsonian translocation (Robertsonian translocation 1/31). This translocation was restricted to the poodle breed; it occurred in high frequency and was encountered in the homozygous and heterozygous state.

Sequential staining with a counterstain-contrasted fluorescent banding technique (chromomycin A3-distamycin A-DAPI) revealed the occurrence of distamycin A-4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DA-DAPI) staining heterochromatin in the centromeric regions of chromosomes 33, 36, 37, and 38 in the wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) and of chromosomes 13, 16, and 23 in the blue fox (Alopex lagopus). The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) lacked such regions. Staining with DAPI--actinomycin D produced a QFH-type banding pattern with clearcut differences in the staining behaviour of DA-DAPI positive regions between these three canid species. Staining with the fluorochrome D 287/170 did not preferentially highlight any of the DA-DAPI positive regions in any of them. Counterstain-enhanced chromomycin A3 R-banding and studies of nucleolus organizer region location and activity confirmed a close relationship between the karyotype of the wolf and the domestic dog. Few heterochromatic marker bands were encountered in these two species, but heterochromatin polymorphism was evident in the blue fox.

Giemsa banding in cattle chromosomes enables the demarcation of both centromeric areas as pale regions and banding patterns along the chromosome arms. These are valuable in identifying all the chromosomes of a given karyotype. A high degree of intra- and inter-individual variation in the size of the centromeres was observed. This variation is useful for the identification of each individual and provides a broad base of chromosome markers for cattle breeding.

Karyotyping of eight malformed calves resulted in the detection of trisomy 22 in one calf. This calf had a hernia umbilicalis, a urachus fistula, and slight brachygnathia inferior. This trisomy was not associated with lethality.

Chromomycin A3 banding of the mitotic sets of 10 species of Bovidae (cattle, wisent, yak, banteng, gaur, red buffalo, swamp buffalo, sheep, mufflon, and goat) serves to demarcate both centromeric constitutive heterochromatin and R-banding patterns capable of identifying all the chromosomes within a given complement. In all species significant amounts of chromomycin-bright heterochromatin are present at the centromeres of all autosomes, though there was a high degree of intra- and inter-individual variation in the size of the heterochromatic blocks. Marked interspecies differences in the centromeric patterns were evident. The X chromosomes contained appreciable amounts of centromeric heterochromatin only in the two buffaloes. All the animals studied lacked distamycin A - diamidinophenylindole type heterochromatin. AgNO3 staining was applied sequentially to detect the location of active nucleolus organizer regions (NORs). The distribution of NORs was reasonably conservative in most of the species. An exceptional situation was found in the two buffaloes, where only one NOR pair matched with the standard karyotype of the Bovidae.

G-band karyotyping of 20 Alpine Grey AI bulls resulted in the detection of a reciprocal translocation 60,XY,t(8;15) (21;24) in 1 bull. The 60-90 days non-return rate of this translocation-bearing bull was very poor (25%).