Table 1.

Average Number of Cells per Sponge Region

Sponge region	NTD (1-35)-EGFP	mod NTD (1-35)-EGFP	P value
Day 7 pericapsular	128 ± 36	182 ± 108	0.287
Day 7 sponge body	12 ± 2	20 ± 9	0.021
Day 14 pericapsular	152 ± 102	166 ± 103	0.772
Day 14 sponge body	69 ± 43	65 ± 67	0.882

Tranverse hematoxylin-stained sections of each sponge were analyzed for total cell number in the pericapsular (between striated muscle and sponge) and sponge body (entire sponge area) regions. At least ten ×40 fields per region were quantified in each sponge. P values were calculated using the two parameter paired Student's t-test, n = 6–8 sponges per group.