Airtight Chamber Research Articles

Halogenated Anesthetics Inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa Growth in Culture Conditions Reproducing the Alveolar Environment

We assessed the effects of halogenated anesthetics on Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth in a liquid nutrient broth.Sterile Petri dishes (3.5-cm diameter) were filled with a 1-mL suspension of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain and incubated at 37[degree sign]C. Exposure of bacterial plates to halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane administered at 1 and 2 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) were studied for different exposure times (1, 2, 3, and 4 h) using an airtight chamber. For each time, a control point was obtained. Serial dilutions and agar plates were made, and developed colonies were counted. A significant decrease in bacterial growth was observed from the second hour of exposure to every halogenated anesthetic. For long periods of exposure (3 and 4 h), bacterial growth was significantly reduced in the plates exposed to 2 MAC compared with 1 MAC. The maximal inhibition was observed after a 4-h exposure at 2 MAC and reached 60%, 49%, and 42% for halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane, respectively. We conclude that a decrease in Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth is observed after exposure to halogenated anesthetics, but whether this inhibition is clinically important remains to be demonstrated. Implications: Bacterial pneumonia is a major source of morbidity after general anesthesia. We measured the effects of volatile anesthetics on the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the pathogens most often isolated in hospital-acquired pneumonia. The experiments were performed in vitro in culture conditions reproducing those observed in the alveolar space. Volatile anesthetics inhibited the growth of these bacteria, but the clinical significance of this fact remains to be determined. (Anesth Analg 1998;86:1075-8)

Halogenated anesthetics inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth in culture conditions reproducing the alveolar environment.

We assessed the effects of halogenated anesthetics on Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth in a liquid nutrient broth. Sterile Petri dishes (3.5-cm diameter) were filled with a 1-mL suspension of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain and incubated at 37 degrees C. Exposure of bacterial plates to halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane administered at 1 and 2 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) were studied for different exposure times (1, 2, 3, and 4 h) using an airtight chamber. For each time, a control point was obtained. Serial dilutions and agar plates were made, and developed colonies were counted. A significant decrease in bacterial growth was observed from the second hour of exposure to every halogenated anesthetic. For long periods of exposure (3 and 4 h), bacterial growth was significantly reduced in the plates exposed to 2 MAC compared with 1 MAC. The maximal inhibition was observed after a 4-h exposure at 2 MAC and reached 60%, 49%, and 42% for halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane, respectively. We conclude that a decrease in Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth is observed after exposure to halogenated anesthetics, but whether this inhibition is clinically important remains to be demonstrated. Bacterial pneumonia is a major source of morbidity after general anesthesia. We measured the effects of volatile anesthetics on the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the pathogens most often isolated in hospital-acquired pneumonia. The experiments were performed in vitro in culture conditions reproducing those observed in the alveolar space. Volatile anesthetics inhibited the growth of these bacteria, but the clinical significance of this fact remains to be determined.

Measurement of photosynthetic oxygen evolution with a new type of oxygen sensor

We measured the light response curve of photosynthetic oxygen evolution by illuminating a leaf disc in an air-tight windowed chamber. Oxygen production was measured by monitoring the quenching of luminescence of an organometallic ruthenium compound. A photodiode based chlorophyll a fluorometer was used to measure the luminescence intensity. Oxygen evolution measurements with a traditional oxygen electrode gave the same numerical values at different light intensities when the same leaf disk was tested. The quality of the measurement signal of the new method was found to be similar to that obtained with the oxygen electrode method. The new luminescence based system is more stable against electrical disturbances than an oxygen electrode, its response to oxygen pressure changes is very rapid, and the new method allows the same basic equipment to be used for chlorophyll fluorescence and oxygen measurements.

Hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in an optimized environment for the guineapig.

Prolonged exposure to hypoxia elicits a variety of time-related morphologic and physiologic changes in the pulmonary vasculature of mammals, including humans. The study of hypoxia-induced changes in rodents generally requires a prolonged exposure to 9% oxygen for a minimum of 10 days in an airtight chamber, which has only been generally described in the literature as large (200-400 l), sealed acrylic chambers. To assist in the search for better therapies for diseases associated with chronic hypoxia using animal models, we have custom-built an airtight chamber for hypoxic exposure of rodents, and characterized the effect of chronic hypoxia on functional and morphologic changes in the pulmonary vasculature of the guineapig using this system. This chamber has been designed to alleviate any unnecessary stress related to food or water intake, cleanliness and excess illumination to the animals during the hypoxic-exposure period. Chronic exposure of the guineapig to hypoxia (0-21 days) produced time-related physiologic, morphologic, and haematologic changes. For example, after 10 days in hypoxia (9% oxygen), pulmonary artery pressure was significantly increased from 13 +/- 1 mmHg in normoxic controls (day 0, n = 6) to 26 +/- 0 mmHg (day 10, n = 4, P < 0.01). Right ventricular hypertrophy in hypoxic animals, presented as a ratio of right ventricle free wall weight to body weight, showed a significant increase from 0.054 +/- 0.004 (day 0) to 0.069 +/- 0.004 on day 10 (P < 0.05), while age-matched normoxic animals showed no changes in right ventricular weight (day 0 = 0.059, day 10 = 0.058; P > 0.05). Red blood cell count significantly increased over the same time period, from 5.9 +/- 0.1 (day 0) to 6.4 +/- 0.1 (day 10, P < 0.05), as did haematocrit, 48 +/- 0.7 (day 0) to 61 +/- 0.9 (day 10, P < 0.05), and haemoglobin, 16 +/- 0.2 (day 0) to 20 +/- 0.1 (day 10, P < 0.05). It is concluded that considerations for the well-being of the test animals (i.e. continuous water, ample food supplies, burrow-like hiding places, sanitation and protection from excess illumination) can easily be incorporated into a hypoxic chamber. The purpose of the present study was to explore modifications that may provide the animal with an optimized environment which will reduce anxiety and stress, as seen in their behaviour when inside the chambers, and to thoroughly characterize the morphologic and physiologic changes associated with chronic hypoxia which develop in a consistent time-related manner.

Anoxia-induced activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in guinea pig ventricular cells and its modulation by glycolysis.

Exposure to anoxia has been reported to activate ATP-sensitive potassium (K+(ATP)) channels in isolated ventricular myocytes. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the anoxia-induced activation of K+(ATP) channels. Guinea pig ventricular myocytes were isolated using collagenase digestion. Action potentials and membrane currents were recorded in the whole-cell mode of patch clamp. Exposure to anoxia was performed in a semi-closed airtight chamber, which prevented the diffusion of atmospheric oxygen into anoxic perfusate. Exposure to glucose-free anoxia shortened the action potential duration (APD) to less than 20% of control in 13 +/- 3 min. Subsequent reoxygenation rapidly and completely restored the APD. The time-independent large outward current which developed during anoxia was completely suppressed by reoxygenation or by the application of glibenclamide, a K+(ATP) channel blocker. The presence of extracellular glucose did not prevent APD shortening during anoxia, although it significantly decreased the rate of shortening. Reoxygenation-induced restoration of the APD was inhibited after a long-lasting anoxia. In addition, repeated exposures to anoxia/reoxygenation progressively impaired the recovery of APD during reoxygenation. Activation of K+(ATP) channels occurs during anoxia. The primary source of ATP that regulates the channel activity seems to be oxidative phosphorylation. ATP derived from anaerobic glycolysis (attained by the increase of extracellular glucose) was observed to partially suppress the channel activity only when oxidative phosphorylation was severely impaired during anoxia.

An indirect method for absorption rate estimation: Flurothyl-induced seizures

This paper develops a method to estimate a minimal amount of flurothyl necessary to induce the seizures (the seizure threshold). A simple mathematical model is proposed which permits one to determine the drug absorption rate from the amount which has been administered and from the measured latency to onset of seizure. Experimental animal (rats) were exposed to a continuous intake of flurothyl in two different situations: either being alone in the airtight chamber or sharing it in a pair. In the latter case, we assume that the two rats uniformly share the infused drug. Our calculations estimate that approximately 20μ,1 of flurothyl is necessary to induce twitches, whereas 25μ,1 of flurothyl is the dose required for the induction of clonic seizures. The model can be used to estimate the threshold amounts of any drug producing obvious behavioral changes irrespective of the route of administration.

An indirect method for absorption rate estimation: flurothyl-induced seizures.

This paper develops a method to estimate a minimal amount of flurothyl necessary to induce the seizures (the seizure threshold). A simple mathematical model is proposed which permits one to determine the drug absorption rate from the amount which has been administered and from the measured latency to onset of seizure. Experimental animal (rats) were exposed to a continuous intake of flurothyl in two different situations: either being alone in the airtight chamber or sharing it in a pair. In the latter case, we assume that the two rats uniformly share the infused drug. Our calculations estimate that approximately 20 microliters of flurothyl is necessary to induce twitches, whereas 25 microliters of flurothyl is the dose required for the induction of clonic seizures. The model can be used to estimate the threshold amounts of any drug producing obvious behavioral changes irrespective of the route of administration.

Inhibitory effects of ginseng total saponins on hypoxia-induced dysfunction and injuries of cultured astrocytes

The effects of ginseng total saponins (GTS) on hypoxic damage of primary cultures of astrocytes were studied. Hypoxia was created by placing cultures in an air tight chamber that was flushed with 95% N(2)/5% CO(2) for 15 min before being sealed. Cultures showed evidence of significant cell injury after 24 h of hypoxia (increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in the culture medium, cell swelling and decreased glutamate uptake and protein content). Addition of GTS (0.1, 0.3 mg/ml) to the cultures during the exposure to hypoxic conditions produced dose-dependent inhibition of the LDH efflux. GTS (0.1, 0.3 mg/ml) also produced significant inhibition of the increased cell volume of astrocytes measured by [(3)H]O-methyl-D-glucose uptake under the hypoxic conditions. Decreased glutamate uptake and protein content was inhibited by GTS. These data suggest that GTS prevents astrocytic cell injury induced by severe hypoxiain vitro.

Development of a nitrate ion-selective electrode based on an Urushi matrix membrane and its application to the direct measurement of nitrate-nitrogen in upland soils

A solid-state nitrate ion-selective electrode based on an Urushi matrix membrane was developed. Urushi, a natural oriental lacquer, has excellent mechanical strength and binding affinity for metal electrodes. Using the same technique for a dip-coating ion-selective electrode, an electrode was prepared by coating and hardening a sensing membrane on the metal base. The effects of the metal electrode on the electrode potential stability, the liquid-membrane components and the oven temperature for hardening of membrane were studied. The sensing membrane, consisting of 27.5 wt.% of o-nitrophenyl octyl ether. 27.5 wt.% of tri- n-octylmethylammonium nitrate and 45 wt.% of raw Urushi latex, was coated with a thickness of 0.5 mm on a silver disc which was plated with Ag/AgCl, then plated with copper and hardened in the oven at 80 °C for 50 h. A semi-logarithmic calibration curve of potential versus nitrate ion concentration was obtained over the range 6–60 000 mg l −1 NO 3 poststaggered−. The slope of the linear part of the curve was −56 mV per decade change in NO 3 poststaggered− concentration. Compared with a PVC matrix nitrate ion-selective electrode, the Urushi matrix nitrate ion-selective electrode was superior in terms of hardness and mechanical strength of the membrane, short response time and long life. The combination of an Urushi matrix nitrate ion-selective electrode with a porous PTFE junction reference electrode, air-tight structured KCl solution chamber and a temperature sensor was applied to field measurements of nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in upland soils. The values obtained for upland soils containing 30–50% of water were good agreement with those for soil solution.

An experimental set-up to study carbon, water, and nitrate uptake rates by hydroponically grown plants.

The experimental system described allows concomitant hourly measurements of CO2, H2O, and NO3 uptake rates by plants grown hydroponically in a greenhouse. Plants are enclosed in an airtight chamber through which air flows at a controlled speed. Carbon dioxide exchange and transpiration rates are determined from respective differences of concentrations of CO2 and water vapor of the air at the system inlet and outlet. This set-up is based on the "open-system" principle with improvements made on existing systems. For instance, propeller anemometers are used to monitor air flow rates in the chamber. From their signal it is possible to continuously adjust air speed to changing environmental conditions and plant activity. The air temperature inside the system therefore never rises above that outside. Water and NO3 uptake rates are calculated at time intervals from changes in the volume and the NO3 concentration of the nutrient solution in contact with the roots. The precise measurement of the volume of solution is achieved using a balance which has a higher precision than any liquid level sensors. Nitrate concentration is determined in the laboratory from aliquots of solution sampled at time intervals. A number of test runs are reported which validate the measurements and confirm undisturbed conditions within the system. Results of typical diurnal changes in CO2, H2O, and NO3 uptake rates by fruiting tomato plants are also presented.

Planar optical waveguide with PbCl2 cladding: a chlorine sensor

Single-mode optical waveguides of 1 mm width are fabricated by thermal indiffusion so that Na+ is replaced by K+ in a simple soda-lime glass substrate. PbCl2 is selectively vacuum evaporated on to the waveguide surface as a sensitive layer (cladding). The thickness of the cladding is varied from 170 nm to 480 nm, with clad length from 2 mm to 6 mm. The prism-film coupling method with an He-Ne laser (λ = 632.8 nm) is used for characterization. The output light intensity of a TM-mode is detected by a silicon photovoltaic detector. The waveguides are tested for different gases (O2, H2, CO2, N2, Cl2, H2O), in an airtight glass chamber. The presence of only Cl2 in the surrounding air ambient reduces the output, even at a few p.p.m.. The Cl2 gas concentration is varied from 3 p.p.m. to 1.5%.

Fumigant Toxicity of Citruspeel Oils against Adult and Immature Stages of Storage Insect Pests

The biological action of citruspeel oils was shown to depend on a strong fumigant action. Bioassays conducted in air-tight glass chambers showed that all the six citrus oils tested had vapour toxicity towards adults of Callosobruchus maculatus F., Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. and Dermestes maculatus Deg. The 24-h LC50 value of limepeel oil (a typical citrus oil) vapour against C. Maculatus was 7·99 μl litre−1 which made it 1·5 and 1·6 times less toxic against the smaller S. zeamais and the larger D. maculatus adult insects. When immature stages were fumigated, limepeel oil vapour had 24-h LC50 values of 7·8 and 21·5 μl litre−1 against eggs of C. maculatus and D. maculatus respectively, and 9·1, 17·8 and 23·1, 23·9 μl litre−1 against early larvae, pupae of C. maculatus and late larvae, pupae of D. maculatus respectively. X-ray studies showed that fumigated C. maculatus larvae within cowpea grains died immediately without further development. The bioactivities of five other citruspeel oils were similar to that of limepeel oil. Bioassays showed that sorption of citruspeel oil fumes occurred in the presence of grains or strips of dried fish, and that this tended to reduce the amount available for fumigant action outside the materials. The problems presented by sorption may hinder the development of citrus oils into practical fumigants for large-scale treatments of stored commodities.

Fumigant Toxicity of Citruspeel Oils against Adult and Immature Stages of Storage Insect Pests

The biological action of citruspeel oils was shown to depend on a strong fumigant action. Bioassays conducted in air-tight glass chambers showed that all the six citrus oils tested had vapour toxicity towards adults of Callosobruchus maculatus F., Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. and Dermestes maculatus Deg. The 24-h LC50 value of limepeel oil (a typical citrus oil) vapour against C. Maculatus was 7·99 μl litre−1 which made it 1·5 and 1·6 times less toxic against the smaller S. zeamais and the larger D. maculatus adult insects. When immature stages were fumigated, limepeel oil vapour had 24-h LC50 values of 7·8 and 21·5 μl litre−1 against eggs of C. maculatus and D. maculatus respectively, and 9·1, 17·8 and 23·1, 23·9 μl litre−1 against early larvae, pupae of C. maculatus and late larvae, pupae of D. maculatus respectively. X-ray studies showed that fumigated C. maculatus larvae within cowpea grains died immediately without further development. The bioactivities of five other citruspeel oils were similar to that of limepeel oil. Bioassays showed that sorption of citruspeel oil fumes occurred in the presence of grains or strips of dried fish, and that this tended to reduce the amount available for fumigant action outside the materials. The problems presented by sorption may hinder the development of citrus oils into practical fumigants for large-scale treatments of stored commodities.

Myocardial VO2 of mechanically unloaded contraction of rat ventricular slices measured by a new approach

We instituted a new approach of measuring mechanically unloaded myocardial oxygen consumption (VO2) by using rat left ventricular (LV) slices in an air-tight chamber filled with oxygenated Tyrode solution. Myocardial slices (300 microns in thickness) freely shortened without external load by electrical field stimulation (St). VO2 without St (n = 6) was 1.69 +/- 0.41 ml O2.min-1.100 g LV-1. VO2 with St (n = 6) increased to 2.28 +/- 0.36 ml O2.min-1.100 g LV-1. VO2 in Ca(2+)-free Tyrode solution irrespective of St was nearly equal to VO2 without St in normal Tyrode solution, indicating that all these VO2 correspond to basal metabolic VO2. The increment in VO2 by St (delta VO2) increased up to twice normal with the extracellular Ca2+ concentration up to 4 times normal. Inhibition of cross-bridge cycling by 2,3-butanedione monoxime (5 and 10 mM) did not decrease delta VO2. These results suggest that delta VO2 consists of VO2 primarily for excitation-contraction coupling but not for cross-bridge cycling.

Fumigant toxicity is the major route of insecticidal activity of citruspeel essential oils

Dosages (>10 ml mg−1 against Callosobruchus maculatus F. or Sitophilus zeamais Motsch; >20 ml kg−1 against Dermestes maculatus Deg.) of citruspeel oils reduced oviposition or larval emergence through parental adult mortality, but had no residual activity on the eggs or larvae produced by survivors. Oil-treated grains (7 ml kg−1 against C. maculatus) or dried fish (28 ml kg−1 against D. maculatus) which caused 100% mortality 1 h after application lost all activity within 24 h, thus confirming the non-residual nature of the effects. The activity of limepeel oil against test insects was found to be dependent on the time interval between the application of oil and start of bioassays. The non-volatile residues of limepeel oil were not toxic to insects on glass and dried-fish surfaces. Topical toxicity trials against D. maculatus adults also illustrated the relative unimportance of contact toxicity of citrus oils, as appreciable mortality (at application rates of up to 2 μl per insect) was obtained only when treated insects were confined in air-tight glass chambers. The volatility of toxic constituents in the oils was further illustrated by mortality of untreated C. maculatus adults confined in air-tight chambers with topically treated D. maculatus. A more efficient way to use citruspeel essential oils to control insects would be as a fumigant in relatively enclosed or air-tight systems.

A dynamic system for removing oxygen from air using an electrochemical cell

Abstract Specialized electrochemical cells, which have the ability to deoxygenate continuously, may provide an alternative method of minimizing deterioration in museum objects by display or storage in the absence of oxygen. A prototype has been investigated and its ability to reduce the oxygen concentration inside a small, airtight chamber, similar in shape and size to a museum display case, has been measured. Preliminary results are presented.

Development of long-term stable reference electrode with fluoric resin liquid junction

A porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) junction reference electrode with an air-tight inner solution chamber containing saturated potassium chloride (KCl) was developed for flow analysis. This reference electrode is not influenced by a change in the sample pressure, and is not necessary to supply the KCl inner solution. The pore size of the porous PTFE junction is about 150 μm, although the conventional porous ceramic junction is 0.1 ~ 0.3 μm. The large pore size of the porous PTFE junction promotes the continuous exudation of KCl from the liquid junction and the higher surface tension of PTFE is effective to prevent the overflow of KCl. The porous PTFE was made by putting 74% of PTFE powder and 26% of KCl powder in a mold, pressing with a pressure of 200 kgf cm −2, and sintering at 365 °C. The quantity of KCl exuded from the disposable reference electrode is closely related to the life of the electrode. The relationship between the diffusion rate of the PTFE reference electrode and its characteristics was investigated. The quantity of KCl exuded from this reference electrode was initially of the order of 10 −5 mol h −1 and decreased to the order of 10 −6 mol h −1 after a year. This is approximately one-tenth of that exuded in a conventional reference electrode with a ceramic junction. The junction potential of the developed reference electrode was stable in the pH range 2 ~ 12 with a total ionic strength of more than 10 −3 mol l −1. This reference electrode containing 8 ml of the KCl inner solution was able to be used continuously for one or two years.

Experimental method to measure gaseous uptake of 14C-toluene by foliage

An experimental method is described to measure foliar uptake and translocation of volatile organic compounds in plants. A flow-through exposure chamber was designed to determine phytoxicity of volatile organic compounds; an air-tight chamber was used for exposure of whole plants to radiolabeled test compound. 14C-toluene uptake by soybean ( Glycine max) foliage was measured as an example of the experimental approach. Leaf tissue concentrations of 14C-toluene were measured over a 55.5-hr exposure period during light and dark periods. Photosynthetic rate was not affected by chronic atmospheric exposure to 27 μmole cm −3 hr toluene. During a 55.5-hr exposure to 7.2 μmoles cm −3 hr 14C-toluene (1.94 Bq cm −3), deposition velocities were greatest in the light phases and showed a marked decrease during the dark phases of exposure, suggesting that stomatal uptake as well as surface deposition contributed to toluene uptake. 14C was translocated from foliage to the roots. These data indicate that deposition of volatile organic compounds to vegetation may constitute a mechanism leading to herbivore exposure to volatile hazardous organics at waste sites. The experimental method described can be used to measure foliar uptake and translocation of volatile organic compounds to whole plants under laboratory conditions.

Utility of direct genetic probes for the rapid presumptive identification of positive blood cultures

The changes in morphology and proliferation kinetics produced by colchicine in the intestinal mucosa are known. Contrarily, the functional changes have yet not been investigated systematically. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of colchicine treatment on rat intestinal disaccharidase activities.Material and methods: For the experiments male SPF-Wistar rats, body weight 180-200 g-(supplied by Mus-Rattus AG, 8011 Brunnthal, FRG) were used. The animals were kept under constant conditions (6 rats per cage) and fed Altromin® (Altromin GmbH, Lage/Lippe), tap water ad libitum.Per day 6 animals of each test group were scarificed by cervical dislocation at defined time. About 3 cm of the intestine were removed 8-10 cm distally of the pylorus and cut longitudinally. After cautious cleaning the mucosa was detached using a scalpel. The thus obtained specimens of the mucosa were frozen at –20 °C in an air-tight humidity chamber and preserved there until further handling. For histological examination the correspondent parts of the intestine were fixed in 10 % formol. From each specimen 4 different stainings were made (haematoxylin-eosin, Giemsa, PAS and Feulgen stain).Per test series 60–66 rats were used. The following doses of colchicine were applied:1 × 1.0 mg/kg body weight,1 × 0.5 mg/kg body weight,5 × 0.1 mg/kg body weight within 24 hours.The single doses were dissolved in about 0.5 physiological saline and applied intraperitoneally. In each 6 rats per group the activities of the following diasccharidases were measured at 24 hours intervals from the 1st to 10th or 14th day: sucrase, maltase, lactase, and cellobiase.The enzyme activities were determined after the two-step method developed by Dahlqvist (5, 6) which can be used as micromethod. The ascertained enzyme activities were always related to the protein content. Protein determination was done after the method of Folin-Ciocalteu as modified by Lowry et al. (14). The enzyme activities were expressed in international units per g protein (U/g protein).The results obtained were statistically ascertained by the non-parametric test after Kruskal-Wallis, variance analysis with linear contrasts after Scheffe as well as by double variance analyses (26).

Quality of Fundy and Blomidon lowbush blueberries: Effects of storage atmosphere, duration and fungal inoculation

This study investigated the response of two cultivars of lowbush blueberries, Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., cultivars Fundy and Blomidon, to controlled atmosphere (CA) storage in all combinations of 1, 2, and 5% O2 and 0, 5, 10, and 15% CO2, and storage in air. A second set of samples was inoculated with a Botrytis-infected raspberry prior to storage to determine the effect of CA storage on decay development. The berries were held at 0 °C in air-tight chambers flushed each day for 30 min. Half-liter samples were stored for 2,4, and 6 wk in air or CA storage and then evaluated for percent unmarketable berries, firmness, titratable acids and percent decayed berries. This was followed by 7 d in air at 10 or 20 °C and recording of percent unmarketable berries. The experiment was replicated over 2 yr. Both cultivars responded positively to CA storage. Increasing CO2 in the presence of 1–5% O2 reduced decay and the percent unmarketable berries and maintained titratable acids and berry firmness levels. After 42 d of storage, Fundy had 30.5% unmarketable berries in air storage, compared with 8.7% in 15% CO2. Blomidon had 36.0% and 6.8% unmarketable berries in air and 15% CO2, respectively. Decreasing O2 reduced the percentage decayed berries and maintained titratable acids. Botrytis inoculation before storage reduced berry quality, but cultivars responded differently. The quality of berries 7 d after removal from storage was influenced primarily by cultivar, storage time and shelf temperature and not by storage atmosphere. Key words:Vaccinium angustifolium, oxygen, carbon dioxide, shelf-life, firmness, titratable acidity, decay, CA storage