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Oxygenation capacity of hypotonized and crosslinked rat erythrocytes
A I García-Pérez1, M T Pérez, L Lucas
1Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular. Universidad de Alcalá. Campus Universitario, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Rat erythrocytes subjected to hypotonic-isotonic dialysis, or crosslinking with bifunctional reagents (glutaraldehyde and dimethyl suberimidate hydrochloride) show a high percentage of methemoglobin and decreased oxyhemoglobin content which implies a low oxygen carrying capacity. Such modified cells maintain reversible oxygen binding properties although, they present a high hemoglobin oxygen affinity (low P50) and a diminished cooperativity in binding oxygen to hemoglobin (low n). These results suggest a reduced capacity of liberating oxygen to tissues under low PO2. Changes produced in erythrocytes can not be restored even in the presence of energy (ATP), reduced glutathione and 2,3-bisphosphoglyceric acid during the dialysis process or after crosslinking/permeabilizing treatment.