Kinetics of the Root effect and of O2 exchange in whole blood of the eel.
Oxygen transfer kinetics in blood of the eel (Anguilla rostrata, A. anguilla) were measured spectrophotometrically in thin blood layers covered by Gore-Tex membranes, which allowed fast changes of the gas phase at the blood surface (Heidelberger and Reeves, 1990 J. Appl. Physiol. 68: 1854-1864). The following main results were obtained for A. rostrata (similar values were measured for A. anguilla): (1) step change in PO2 of the gas phase between 0 and 37 kPa at low PCO2 (0.19 kPa, blood pH, 8.1; 20 degrees C) yielded mean half times (t(on)) for O2 uptake of 7.1 msec, and for O2 release (t(off)), of 42.8 msec. Similar values were obtained at high PCO2 (19 kPa; blood pH, 6.9), indicating O2 kinetics to be independent of pH and PCO2; (2) decreasing the high PO2 from 37 to 14 kPa significantly prolonged oxygen uptake kinetics, but release kinetics were unaltered; (3) changing PCO2 from 0.19 to 19 kPa at constant high PO2 (37 kPa) resulted in a reduction of hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO2) (Root-off reaction), with t(off) averaging 44.8 msec; likewise, changing PCO2 from 19 to 0.19 kPa increased SO2 with t(on) averaging 64.8 msec (Root-on reaction). As these half times comprise reactions at the hemoglobin molecule and conversion between CO2 and H(+)/HCO3-, the Root effect kinetics of the hemoglobin molecule appear to be even faster. It is concluded that the O2 exchange kinetics of eel blood are comparable with those of human blood.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pelster
B
B
Institut für Physiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, FRG.
Scheid
P
P
Reeves
R B
RB
D000818:Animals; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010313:Partial Pressure
D006454:Hemoglobins; D010100:Oxygen