Oxygen transport after hemodilution of human blood with crystalline hemoglobin solution

Fresh human blood and hemoglobin solution were mixed in different proportions to simulate hemodilution volumes occurring when blood is replaced by hemoglobin solution. Oxygen dissociation curves, P50 and hematocrit value of blood, hemoglobin solution and mixtures of blood and hemoglobin solution were determined. Total hemoglobin and oxygen content of the samples and the contribution to the total content by the two components in the mixtures were also measured. From these data, calculations were made of the oxygen release, at different pO2, by blood, hemoglobin solution and mixtures of blood and hemoglobin solution with contribution by each of two components. An in vitro analysis of static equilibrium between hemoglobin and oxygen demonstrates that the contribution of hemoglobin to the total oxygen released is affected by three factors, the left shift of the oxygen dissociation curve, the pO2 at the tissue level and the concentration of the hemoglobin in the solution used for hemodilution.