Kinetics of O2 uptake by erythrocytes as a function of cell age.

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Abstract
We studied the kinetics of O2 uptake by human erythrocytes to determine if the known structural and biochemical changes that occur in aging red cells affect the respiratory function of blood. We centrifuged freshly drawn heparinized human blood to separate the older cells from the younger ones. Using a modified Hartridge-Roughton rapid reaction apparatus we measured the rate of association of O2 with each cell population. In 5 of 6 experiments the older cells took up O2 more slowly. The association velocity constant, k[image]c, averaged 116 m[image]-1 sec-1 for old cells and 147 m[image]-1 sec-1 for young cells. Although the results are statistically significant we doubt they have any physiologic significance in O2 exchange in capillary beds.