Cellular morphology and architecture during early morphogenesis of the ascidian egg: an SEM study

1. Cellular morphology and architecture during early morphogenesis of the ascidian embryo were examined by SEM. 2. The outer surface of the embryo was essentially smooth. The blastocoel could be seen in the dissected blastula. On the cell surface bordering the blastocoel, numerous pseudopodia extended from cells onto adjacent cells. These pseudopodia were suggested to contribute to cell-to-cell adhesion. 3. Before the initiation of gastrulation, a layer of the cells of the animal (ventral) hemisphere and that of the cells of the vegetal (dorsal) hemisphere adhered closely together. The blastocoel could no longer be observed. 4. The gastrulation began during the seventh cleavage. The gastrocoel was formed by a folding of the two layers of the cells. Examinations of the dissected gastrulae suggested two cooperative forces for the gastrulation: first, the epibolic or enfolding movement of the ventral ectoderm cells and secondly, the change in shape of the constituent cells. 5. The neural tube formation progressed in a similar fashion to that of vertebrates.