Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sex differences in the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin

  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The oxygen dissociation curves of 50 healthy young nonsmokers 25 women and 25 men, were investigated. The following parameters were deter-mined: hemoglobin concentration, microhematocrit, red cell count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, capillary blood pH,P 50 value, and the concentration of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate.

P 50 values are significantly higher in the female group (28.3 mm Hg±0.4 S.E.M.) than in the male group (26.3 mm Hg±0.4 S.E.M.), indicating a lower oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in females.

There is no significant difference between the DPG values. No significant negative correlation exists between the Hb concentration and theP 50 values.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aste-Salazar, H., Hurtado, A.: The affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen at sea level and high altitudes. Amer. J. Physiol.142, 733 (1944)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Astrup, P.: Oxygen dissociation curves in some diseases. Försvarsmedicin5, 199–204 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Astrup, P., Engel, K., Severinghaus, J. W., Munson, E.: The influence of temperature and pH on the dissociation curve of oxyhemoglobin of human blood. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest.17, 515–523 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bartels, H., Betke, K., Hilpert, P., Niemeyer, G., Riegel, K.: Die sogenannte Standard-O2-Dissoziationskurve des gesunden erwachsenen Menschen. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol.272, 372–383 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Benesch, R., Benesch, R. E.: The effect of organic phosphates from the human erythrocyte on the allosteric properties of hemoglobin. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun.26, 162–167 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Birnstingl, M., Cole, P., Hawkins, L.: Variations in oxyhemoglobin dissociation with age, smoking and Buerger's disease. Brit. J. Surg.54, 615–619 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bromberg, P. A., Jensen, W. N.: Blood oxygen dissociation curves in sickle cell disease. J. Lab. clin. Med.70, 480 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bunn, H. F., May, M. H., Kocholaty, W. F., Shields, C. E.: Hemoglobin function in stored blood. J. clin. Invest.48, 311–321 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chanutin, A., Curnish, R. R.: Effect of organic and inorganic phosphates on the oxygen equilibrium of human erythrocytes. Arch. Biochem. Biophys.121, 96–102 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Charache, S., Grisolia, S., Fiedler, A. J., Hellegers, A. E.: Effect of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate on oxygen affinity of blood in sickle cell anemia. J. clin. Invest.49, 806–812 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Eaton, J. W., Brewer, G. J., Schultz, J. S., Sing, C. F.: Variation in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and ATP levels in human erythrocytes and effects on oxygen transport. In: Red cell metabolism and function, pp. 21–38, ed. by G. J. Brewer. Plenum Press 1970

  12. Edwards, M. J., Novy, M. J., Walters, C., Metcalf, J.: Improved oxygen release: an adaptation of mature red cells to hypoxia. J. clin. Invest.47, 1851–1857 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Humpeler, E., Amor, H., Deetjen, P.: Sex-linked variations of the oxygen dissociation curve. Pfügers Arch.339 (Suppl.) R 33 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Krimsky, I.: D-Glycerat-2,3-diphosphat. In: Methoden der enzymatischen Analyse, H. U. Bergmeyer, pp. 1397–1399, 1970

  15. Lenfant, C., Torrance, J., English, E., Finch, C. A., Reynafarje, C., Ramos, J., Faura, J.: Effect of altitude on oxygen binding by hemoglobin and on organic phosphate levels. J. clin. Invest.47 2652–2656 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lenfant, C., Torrance, J. D., Reynafarje, C.: Shift of the O2-Hb dissociation curve at altitude: mechanism and effect. J. appl. Physiol.30, 625–631 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mulhausen, R., Astrup, P., Kjeldsen, K.: Oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in patients with cardiovascular disease anemia and cirrhosis of the liver. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest.19, 291–297 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mulhausen, R., Astrup, P., Mellemgaard, K.: Oxygen affinity and acid-base status of human blood during exposure to hypoxia and carbon monoxide. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. Suppl.103, 9–15 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Riegel, K., Bartels, H.: Physiologische und pathologische Funktionsänderungen des Blutgastransportes beim Menschen. Beitr. Silikose-Forsch. S.-Bd.5, 367–388 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Severinghaus, J. W.: Oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve correction for temperature and pH variation in human blood. J. appl. Physiol.12, 485–486 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Shappell, S. D., Lenfant, C.: Adaptive, genetic and iatrogenic alterations of the oxyhemoglobin-dissociation curve. Anesthesiology37, 127–139 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Siggaard Andersen, O., Jörgensen, K., Näraa, N.: Spectrophotometric determination of oxygen saturation in capillary blood. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest.14, 298–302 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Torrance, J., Jacobs, P., Restrepo, A., Eschenbach, J., Lenfant, C., Finch, O. A.: Intraerythrocytic adaptation to anemia. New Engl. J. Med.283, 165–169 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Valtis, D. J., Kennedy, A. C.: Defective gas transport function of stored red blood cells. Lancet1954I, 119

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiologisches Institute der Universität Innsbruck, Austria

    Egon Humpeler & Helmuth Amor

  2. Medizinische Klinik der Universität Innsbruck, Austria

    Egon Humpeler & Helmuth Amor

Authors
  1. Egon Humpeler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Helmuth Amor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

with the technical assistance of Monika Humpeler and Edith Gasser

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Humpeler, E., Amor, H. Sex differences in the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin. Pflugers Arch. 343, 151–156 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585710

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585710

Key words

Search

Navigation