Table 2 Number of mucus-secreting goblet cells in the digestive tract of the Gobiidae

Numbers of goblet cells/tissue section
S. geneionema C. gulosus T. obscrus R. giurinus
Esophagus 42±26c 1,292±95a 994±154b 920±17a
Stomach · N.D. N.D. N.D.
Anterior intestine 197±28b 873±126b 310±57c 641±107b
Mid intestine 271±48ab 1,290±129a 1,402±131a 510±42bc
Posterior intestine 339±26a 784±49bc 405±135c 397±101cd
Rectum 250±8ab 446±51c 368±41c 287±55d
Values are mean ±S.E. in same column superscripted with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05). “ ·” indicates stomachless