Effect of altitude on oxygen binding by hemoglobin and on organic phosphate levels.
The relationship between oxygen dissociation and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in the red cell has been studied in subjects moving from low to high altitude and vice versa. Within 24 hr following the change in altitude there was a change in hemoglobin affinity for oxygen; this modification therefore represents an important rapid adaptive mechanism to anoxia. A parallel change occurred in the organic phosphate content of the red cell. While this study does not provide direct evidence of a cause-effect relationship, the data strongly suggest that with anoxia, the observed rise in organic phosphate content of the red cell is responsible for increased availability of oxygen to tissues.
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000531:Altitude; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005994:Glycerophosphates / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood
D005994:Glycerophosphates; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D010100:Oxygen