Figures & data
Figure 1 A, trunk region of a Botrylloides leachi larva, showing the disposition of the left dorsal and the ventral papilla. The right dorsal one is not focused. B, longitudinal histological section of the trunk region showing the wide hemocoelic region under the anterior ectoderm. C,D, two sections at different level of a dorsal right papilla. E, histological section of the anterior ectoderm, showing the cluster of secreting cells protruding from the tunic. F,G, histological sections at different level of the cluster of secreting cells. bc, blood cells, cn, central neurons; dp, dorsal papilla; ilt, inner layer of the tunic; l, lacuna; ph, photolith; olt ,outer layer of the tunic; pn, peripheral neurons; sc, secreting cells, vp, ventral papilla. Scale bar: A,B 100 µm; C–G 20 µm.
Figure 2 Confocal laser images of dorsal right(A) and left (B) papillae showing the localization of serotonin (FITC signal, in green) and of β‐tubulin (TRITC signal, in red). The yellow colour at the apex is an artifact due to unspecific adhesion of both secondary antibodies in the fenestration of the tunic, where distal processes of central neurons reach the surface. C,D, superimposition of A and B to light microscopy imagines. cn, central neurons; ilt, inner layer of the tunic; pn, peripheral neurons. Scale bar: 20 µm.
Figure 3 Schematic drawing of the anterior ectoderm reconstructed comparing histological sections and confocal laser images.
