Figure 4.

Collagen capsule formation is increased in NTD (1-35)-EGFP–expressing sponges at days 7 and 14. Sections of representative sponges harvested at days 7 and 14 were stained with Masson's trichrome. Collagen stained blue, muscle and red blood cells stained red, and cell nuclei stained brown. PVA sponge material stained brown/blue at day 7 and blue at day 14. Bracket denotes pericapsular region of the sponge. Plasmid infused collagen (GAM) could be seen between the sponge material (S). Thick collagen capsules (COL) were observed at the perimeter of the sponges beneath the panniculus carnosus dermal muscle layer (PC) in NTD (1-35)-EGFP but not in control plasmid-expressing sponges. Scale bar = 50 μm.