Spicule formation in the solitary ascidian, herdmania momus.

Abstract

Two types of calcareous spicules occur abundantly in Herdmania momus, a solitary pyurid ascidian with a worldwide warm water distribution. The large spindle-shaped body spicules are 1.5-2.5-mm long and are located primarily in the mantle, siphons, and branchial basket. Each body spicule possesses 100 or more rows of overlapping, unidirectional fringing spines. Numerous body spicules occur regularly spaced within a long common sheath of complex structure, and there are many sheaths per animal. Between neighboring body spicules and overlying the fringing spines are the tightly connected pseudopodial sclerocytes. Spine formation is hypothesized to occur within these cells. The body spicules apparently continue to increase in size throughout the animal's life. The tunic spicules are about one tenth the length of the body spicules. They have 20-40 rows of unidirectional nonoverlapping fringing spines and a mace-shaped spiny base that anchors them at the tunic surface. They form quickly in individual spicular envelopes inside the tunic blood vessels over a 4-5-day period. Each tunic spicule then leaves its surrounding envelope and blood vessel, passes into the tunic, and ultimately protrudes through the outer surface of the tunic. An organic covering inside the envelope closely adheres to the tunic spicules and stains with toluidine blue. Dissolution of the CaCO3 mineral phase by EDTA or EDTA-cetylpyridinium chloride-formaldehyde reveals an intricately patterned organic matrix within or upon which the spicules develop.