«Correlation between granulocytes and tunic cuticle of Ciona intestinalis (Tunicata, Ascidiacea) as evaluated by microscopy»

The tunic is a peculiar integumentary tissue covering the epidermis of ascidians and other tunicates. It is an extracellularmatrix whose outermost surface is revealed to be a continuos layer called tunic cuticle, composed of electron dense fibrousmaterials. Mechanisms occurring during the growth of the animal after metamorphosis, must assure the maintenance of thethin tunic cuticle density and integrity as it represents the primary body surface barrier preventing the mechanical andmicrobial assaults. Investigations by optical and electron microscopy on tunic samples from young Ciona intestinalis,allowed us to study morphological relationship between the tunic cuticle architecture and granulocytic cellular groups thatare located next to it and the involvement of them on its formation.