Figure 3.

EGFP expression is detected in sponges from days 5–14. A: At day 5, EGFP was detected in vivo at sponge implantation sites by fluorescent imaging. Far left panel shows sponges without fluorescent image overlay. Red arrows: implanted sponges, perimeter of left sponge denoted by a dashed line. Autofluorescence was observed where tissue glue still adheres to the healing incision (collagen and EGFP). Pseudocolor indicates relative intensity of EGFP fluorescence at 515 nm. B: EGFP was detected in the wound fluid from sponges containing NTD (1-35)-EGFP and mod NTD (1-35)-EGFP constructs at day seven. Results are mean molar concentration of EGFP in fluid calculated from an EGFP standard curve of fluorescence with excitation at 485 nm and emission at 530 nm ± SD; n = 6 NTD (1-35)-EGFP sponges and n = 4 modNTD (1-35)-EGFP sponges C: Immunohistochemistry of EGFP expression in sponges at day 14. Paraffin sections of sponges show cells expressing EGFP (arrows). C indicates capsule; S, sponge; GAM, gene-activated matrix infused into sponges. Asterisk indicates the same location at different magnifications. Scale bar = 25 μm.