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The role of chromosomal rearrangements in disturbing reproduction in hybrids between karyotypically differentiated groups is fairly well documented. However, the effect of chromosomal changes at other phenotypic levels is rarely considered. In Tunisia, natural chromosomal hybrids of the house mouse exhibit developmental instability, suggesting that a high karyotypic heterozygosity might also affect developmental processes. If this is true, we predict that, in this species, developmental instability should arise in hybrids between any populations with a high chromosomal differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we compare the results obtained in Tunisian mice with those obtained in the present analysis on Madeiran mice. Both systems of races have similar levels of chromosomal differentiation (nine Robertsonian fusions). Unlike Tunisian mice, hybrids in Madeira display a similar level of developmental instability as parental groups. This indicates that structural heterozygosity per se does not necessarily impair developmental stability. It further suggests that chromosomal fusions are not all equivalent in their phenotypic effects, and that the identity of each fusion should be taken into account.

The divergence in reproductive features and hybrid fertility patterns between two chromosomal races (2n = 40, 40St, and 2n = 22, 22Rb) of the house mouse in Tunisia were re-assessed on a larger sample of wild and laboratory-bred individuals than studied hitherto. Results showed that litter sizes were significantly smaller in 40St than in 22Rb mice, contrary to previous analyses. This suggests that variation in litter size between the two chromosomal races is more likely related to selective and/or environmental factors acting locally than to interracial reproductive trait divergence. However, the significantly reduced litter size of F 1 hybrids compared with parental individuals was confirmed, and further highlighted a sex difference in hybrid infertility, as F 1 females produced fewer litters and of smaller size than males. Histological analyses of F 1 and backcrosses showed a breakdown of spermatogenesis in males and a significantly reduced primordial follicle pool in females. The degree of gametogenic dysfunction was not related to the level of chromosomal heterozygosity per se, but a significant effect of two Rb fusions on follicle number was observed in hybrid females. These results suggest that genetic incompatibilities contribute to primary gametogenic dysfunction in hybrids between the chromosomal races in Tunisia.

The island of Madeira harbours highly differentiated Robertsonian (Rb) races of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus), carrying several unique Rb fusions. The reproductive and geographical isolation between these races is expected to restrict gene flow severely, and contribute to their genetic differentiation. In the present study, the chromosomal distribution and frequency of transcriptionally active nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) between five Madeiran races was studied. The results showed that AgNORs were present in the centromeric regions of five chromosome pairs. Differences in NOR distribution were apparent within and between races. Comparison between races showed that AgNOR variation occurred independently of the Rb or non-Rb state of the chromosomes and of the NOR-bearing status of the partner chromosomes. The results indicated that Rb fusion formation does not interfere with the activity of rDNA genes. In addition our data provided no evidence that the presence of AgNOR sites inhibits Rb fusion. A cluster analysis showed that AgNOR differentiation was only partly congruent with the chromosomal divergence and geographical proximity between races. In particular, parapatrically distributed races showing the lowest chromosomal divergence exhibited high levels of AgNOR differentiation. If confirmed, this suggests that premating isolation may be reinforcing a barrier to gene flow between the races.

The plague has been present for a century in Madagascar; the only known reservoir is the black rat, which is also the main victim of this disease. Whereas the two plague foci are restricted to an altitude above 800 m, the black rat is distributed over the whole island, the only morphological variation being a within-site variability in belly colour. To resolve these apparent contradictions, an analysis of the different belly colour morphs and of populations living in different habitats and altitudes was undertaken. An allozymic study demonstrated that sympatric white- and grey-bellied rats (N = 26) living within the plague foci, all belonged to the same species: Rattus rattus. This specific assignment was confirmed by a chromosomal analysis which showed that all 90 individuals studied presented the same diploid number, 2n = 38, whatever the habitat and altitude. This study indicates that all specimens investigated in Madagascar could be referred to the same black rat species. Survival of rat populations, despite a century of coexistence with the plague, is most likely related to their high reproductive and recolonization potential, as well as selection of plague resistant genotypes. As the altitudinal limit of the plague foci does not seem to be related to characteristics of the rodent reservoir, investigations concerning the vectors are now essential. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 78, 335–341.

In wild populations of the house mouse from Tunisia, fluctuating asymmetry and character size of tooth traits were compared between chromosomal races (2n = 40, all acrocentric standard karyotype, and 2ni = 22, with nine fixed Robertsonian fusions) and their natural hybrids. Developmental stability was impaired in hybrids compared to both parental groups. Because genetic divergence measured by allozyme markers was low, genomic incompatibilities were not expected between the chromosomal races. This suggests that differentiation of gene systems specifically involved in development may have occurred between the chromosomal races. Support for the latter was found in the study of character size which showed that the 2n = 22 mice had smaller teeth than either the hybrid or the standard mice. The study of Tunisian chromosomal races thus shows that chromosomal evolution may lead to important changes in coadapted gene systems without involving extensive genic differentiation.