Fragile sites, telomeric DNA sequences, B chromosomes, and DNA content in raccoon dogs, Nyctereutes procyonoides, with comparative notes on foxes, coyote, wolf, and raccoon.
Earlier studies of the genus Nyctereutes disclosed two subspecies of differing chromosome numbers accompanied by B chromosomes. To further define the relationship of these subspecies to each other, and to other carnivores, and to learn more about the structure and function of their chromosomes, we characterized and compared the genomes in terms of DNA content by flow cytometry, fragile sites induced by aphidicolin, and telomere sequences using biotinylated DNA probes detected with fluorescence. We also characterized the B chromosomes of these two subspecies.