Chromosome analysis of two related heteroploid mouse cell lines by quinacrine fluorescence.

The fluorescent banding patterns of quinacrine-stained metaphase chromosomes have been studied in 2 related mouse cell lines, Ao. and a malignant derivative of A9, A9HT. In both cell lines virtually every chromosome has a distinctive banding pattern which permits its recognition. More than three quarters of the chromosomes have structural rearrangements, but the origin of nearly two thirds of the chromosomes could be determined by their banding patterns. The quinacrine fluorescence technique permits far more detailed characterization and comparison of heteroploid cell lines than any previous method. A9 and A9HT are karyologically quite similar, with many of the same marker chromosomes. There are, however, characteristic differences. A9HT, although it has a smaller average number of chromosomes per cell, appears to be more heterogeneous.