Cytogenetic and molecular analysis of the satellite DNA of the genusCtenomys (Rodentia Octodontidae) from Uruguay

The genus of subterranean rodentsCtenomys presents the widest range of variability in diploid number among mammals (from2n=10 to2n=70). In Uruguay, this variability is observed in karyotypes with2n=44, 50 or 58 and two geographically isolated populations with 70 chromosomes but different karyotypic structure. The last three populations were analyzed in the present study. They present a satellite DNA, which was isolated from genomic DNA afterAlul digestion.In situ hybridization showed that this satellite DNA is located in the centromeric region of a few chromosomes, coincident with Hoechst 33258 staining and C-banding patterns. A similar satellite DNA was detected in Argentinian species of this genus. We established that, in spite of differences in number of positive heterochromatic blocks per karyotype, the C value is the same in the three populations studied. The nature and possible evolutionary path of this repeated DNA is discussed.Accepted for publication by M. Schmid