Estimate of Cytogenetic Homeostasis in Natural Populations
of Some Small Murid Rodents

S. G. Dmitriev and V. M. Zakharov

Kol’tsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 26, Moscow, 119991 Russia
E-mail: anzuz@online.ru

Received April 18, 2001

Abstract—Cytogenetic homeostasis in natural populations under natural conditions and anthropogenic stress
was estimated according to the frequency of chromosome aberrations in somatic cells for six species of small
mammals. Cytogenetic homeostasis was disturbed under the stress effect of increased density during population
cycles, at the ecological periphery, and in the case of environmental chemical and radiation contamination.
Cytogenetic homeostasis disturbances were related to changes in other indices of homeostasis, such as devel-
opmental stability and immune status, suggesting the use of the cytogenetic approach for estimating the general
state of individuals in natural populations.

Key words: cytogenetic homeostasis, chromosome aberrations, natural populations of rodents.

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