Microtubule alignment in goldfish scale fibroblasts is very similar to that described
for fibroblasts above. It is strikingly correlated with the alignment of fibres in the
collagen layer of the fibrillary plate that is closest to the secretory surfaces of the cells
(Byers et al. 1980). This may also be the case for Brachydanio and Hyphessobrycon
where there is a close similarity between supracellular patterns of microtubule
alignment in fibroblasts and fibre alignment in collagen layers of fibrillary plates.
Direct demonstration of microtubule/collagen fibre co-alignment in the goldfish
was achieved by comparing phase-contrast images of fibres in collagen layers next
to the secretory surfaces of fibroblasts with immunofluorescent images of microtubules
in the same fibroblasts. This was not accomplished for Brachydanio and
Hyphessobrycon because it was not possible to detect the orientation of the collagen
fibres closest to the fibroblast layer using phase-contrast or differential interference
contrast microscopy in examinations of scales and associated cells prepared for
immunofluorescence microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy did not clarify
this issue because most of the aligned portions of fibroblast microtubules were not
preserved.