Fig. 4. Initiation of synapsis without an intact central element. Electron microscopy of the synaptonemal complex in wild-type, Tex12^–/– and Sycp1^–/– oocytes and spermatocytes. AE, axial elements (lateral elements after synapsis); TF, transverse filaments; CE, central element; CE^*, central-element-like structure. Bar: 100 nm. A schematic representation of these results is shown in the cartoon at the bottom left.