Resistance of red blood cell membrane to oxygen uptake

Kinetics of oxygen uptake and release by red blood cells of chicken and duck

The specific conductance (G) for O2 transfer by red blood cells (RBCs) of chicken and muscovy duck was measured using the experimental (stopped-flow) and analytical techniques (RBC model) previously applied to human RBC (Yamaguchi, Nguyen Phu, Scheid & Piiper, 1985). Avian RBCs behaved similarly to human RBCs: G values were of similar magnitude; G for O2 uptake decreased with time and increasing O2 saturation; G for O2 release at high levels of dithionite decreased slightly with decreasing O2 saturation; G for O2 release was higher than G for O2 uptake. The deoxygenation kinetics of oxyhaemoglobin in solution was similar for both avian species. The G measured for O2 release at high dithionite concentration, considered to represent a good approximation to intra-erythrocyte O2 diffusion conductance, averaged (in mmol min-1 Torr-1 ml-1 RBC) 0.33 for chicken and 0.25 for duck (at 41 degrees C, pH of the suspension = 7.5, O2 saturation range 0.4-0.8). These species differences can be explained by differences in cell size, the RBC volume averaging 104 micron3 in the chicken and 155 micron3 in the duck. Compared with human RBCs, the G estimates for avian RBCs are somewhat smaller than would be predicted from size differences, which can be explained by the discoid shape of mammalian RBCs which constitutes an advantage compared with the ovoid avian RBC.

The rate of oxygen release and its effect on capillary O2 tension: a mathematical analysis

The time required by the red blood cells (RBC) to release the O2 needed by the tissues may be rate-limiting under conditions of reduced O2 supply (DO2). A time-dependent mathematical model of capillary O2 transport is developed to explore the effect of RBC deoxygenation kinetics on the intracapillary plasma PO2. The tissue capillaries are represented by a series of perfectly mixed compartments. In each compartment O2 is removed by the tissues as a chemical reaction takes place between O2 and oxyhemoglobin (HbO2). A system of differential equations is formulated to monitor changes in the intracapillary concentration of HbO2 and plasma O2. These equations allow for changes in blood flow, arterial oxygenation, capillary transit time, rate of O2 uptake, hemoglobin concentration and the position of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve. The predicted capillary PO2 for conditions of normal O2 supply is less than the PO2 calculated assuming an instantaneous rate of RBC deoxygenation. This difference in plasma PO2 is not present in the venous end of the capillary, since at this point oxyhemoglobin and plasma O2 have sufficient time to re-establish equilibrium. The discrepancy in PO2 profiles is magnified by anemia, [( Hemoglobin] = 5 g/dl), and hypoxemia, (PaO2 = 25 Torr). For these conditions of severe DO2 reduction, the end-capillary PO2 is significantly less than the venous PO2. These results suggest that (1) the kinetics of RBC deoxygenation can play an important role in the delivery of O2 to the tissues, and (2) the venous PO2 is not always an accurate measure of the end capillary PO2.