Auswirkungen von Vorernte-Blattapplikationen mit Calcium auf die Qualität der Früchte der Süßkirschensorte ‘0900 Ziraat’ während der Lagerung

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of foliar calcium application on storage of sweet cherry. Different concentrations of CaCl2 (2.4, 3.2, and 4.0 g/l) and Ca(NO3)(2) (3.4, 4.6, and 5.8 g/l) were applied six times by foliar spraying on leaves and fruits of the sweet cherry variety '0900 Ziraat'. Harvested fruits were packaged in 500 g plastic boxes and stored for four weeks at 0 C-0 and 90-95 % relative humidity. During the experiment, flesh firmness, titratable acidity value (TA), pH, total soluble solids content (SSC) ratio, and weight losses were weekly assessed. The results indicated that there were positive effects of foliar calcium applications on fruit quality coupled with improved firmness, and enhancement of TA, an additional advantage for consumer acceptability. It was found that lower concentrations of both calcium treatments were not affective. On the other hand, 3.2 g/l calcium chloride and 4.6 g/l calcium nitrate were advised. Higher concentrations (4.0 g/l calcium chloride and 5.8 g/l calcium nitrate) caused a decrease in fruit quality through deformations on the fruit surfaces, especially after the third week of storage.Scientific Research Commission of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart UniversityCanakkale Onsekiz Mart University [2005/15]This study was financially supported by the Scientific Research Commission of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University. Project number: 2005/1

Genetic immunization with mouse thyrotropin hormone receptor plasmid breaks self-tolerance for a murine model of autoimmune thyroid disease and Graves' orbitopathy

Experimental models of Graves' hyperthyroid disease accompanied by Graves' orbitopathy (GO) can be efficiently induced in susceptible inbred strains of mice by immunization by electroporation of heterologous human TSH receptor (TSHR) A-subunit plasmid. In this study, we report on the development of a bona fide murine model of autoimmune Graves' disease induced with homologous mouse TSHR A-subunit plasmid. Autoimmune thyroid disease in the self-antigen model was accompanied by GO and characterized by histopathology of hyperplastic glands with large thyroid follicular cells. Examination of orbital tissues showed significant inflammation in extraocular muscle with an accumulation of T cells and macrophages together with the substantial deposition of adipose tissue. Notably, increased levels of brown adipose tissue were present in the orbital tissue of animals undergoing experimental GO. Further analysis of inflammatory loci by ¹⁹F-magnetic resonance imaging showed inflammation to be confined to orbital muscle and optic nerve, but orbital fat showed no difference in inflammatory signs in comparison to control ß-Gal immunized animals. Pathogenic antibodies induced to mouse TSHR were specific for the self-antigen, with minimal cross-reactivity to human TSHR. Moreover, compared to other self-antigen models of murine Graves' disease induced in TSHR knock out mice, the repertoire of autoantibodies to mouse TSHR generated following the breakdown of thymic self-tolerance is different to those that arise when tolerance is not immunologically breached as in the knock out models. Overall, we show mouse TSHR A-subunit plasmid immunization by electroporation overcomes tolerance to self-antigen to provide a faithful model of Graves' disease and GO. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved