THE RATE OF UPTAKE OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND OF NITRIC OXIDE BY NORMAL HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES AND EXPERIMENTALLY PRODUCED SPHEROCYTES

Abstract
The uptake of gases such as oxygen, carbon monoxide, or nitric oxide by the erythrocyte involves: (a) diffusion across the cellular membrane, (b) intraerythrocytic diffusion, and (c) chemical combination with hemoglobin. The aim of this investigation was to obtain data which would permit an analysis of each of these factors in limiting the rate of gas uptake.