M Khoshkholgh - Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, P.O. Box ۱۱۴۴ Sowmehsara, Iran
A.R Alavi - Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, P.O. Box ۱۱۴۴ Sowmehsara, Iran
S Nazari - Genetic and Breeding Research Center for Coldwater Fishes, P.O. Box ۷۵۹۱۴-۳۵۸ Yasouj, Iran

The karyotype of pike from Anzali lagoon in the south Caspian Sea basin have been investigated by examining metaphase chromosomes spreads obtained from gill epithelial and kidney cells. The chromosomes spreads were stained with 7% Giemsa solution for 15 min and examined under a light microscope. Appropriate metaphase plates were photographed in order to prepare karyotype. All specimens had a diploid number of 50 chromosomes, with a karyotype constituted by 12 metacentric , 24 submetacentric, 14 subtelocentric and fundamental number (NF) of 86. The largest chromosome in this species was a pair of metacentric chromosomes. Based on type of chromosomes, the karyotype of the species differed from the findings of previous studies, which could be attributed to the existence of different populations for this species. Despite the conserved diploid number, the data on the karyotype structure help characterize the cytogenetic profile of this species.

Esox lucius, Caspian Sea, Cytogenetic, Giemsa staining