Scanning electron microscopy of the spines of the tunic of the ascidian, Boltenia ovifera
The presence of small spines on the exterior surface of the tunic of Boltenia ovifera, which contain axially oriented microfibrils of cellulose, was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. These spines axe a continuous extension of the mass of the tissue without a recognizable discontinuity between them and the rest of the tunic. They show a trilobed form at their base after preparation for electron microscopy but this may be a result of desiccation. Tips of the spines are blunt and they, as well as the axial microfibrils which compose the shaft, are enclosed in a sheath which seems to be amorphous. On the surface of the tunic, the water-insoluble glycoprotein component is sparsely distributed. The distribution and morphology of these spines pose unusual problems for the mechanism of extracellular synthesis and deposition of cellulose microfibrils.