Intranuclear and Cytoplasmic Annulate Lamellae in Tunicate Oocytes

Electron microscope studies were made on various tunicate oocytes at different stages of growth and development. Both the inner and outer lamellae of the perforated nuclear envelope demonstrate considerable blebbing activity. The blebs of the inner lamella detach into the nucleoplasm where they undergo a special type of fusion process resulting in the formation of numerous, usually single, differentiated annulate lamellae of various lengths. The blebbing of the outer layer of the nuclear envelope contributes to the vesicular and granular endoplasmic reticulum characteristically present in the ooplasm and perhaps to the differentiation of cytoplasmic annulate lamellae as well. Cytoplasmic stacks of annulate lamellae frequently have ribosomes associated with them. In addition, granular accumulations are sometimes observed around or between the annuli. The morphological evidence suggests that, at least in many cases, the annuli in the annulate lamellae are patent.