THE KINETICS OF THE REACTION CO + O2Hb ⇄ O2 + COHb IN HUMAN BLOOD AT BODY TEMPERATURE

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Abstract
Measurements are given of the velocity with which CO displaces O2 from combination with human Hb in soln. and in unlaked red cells at 37[degree] C. The kinetic data conform to the same equation as has been established for sheep Hb soln. at 10 to 20[degree] C, namely, , (d[COHb])/dt=(m[image][CO][(O2b])/O2-m[COHb]. At[O2] values of 0.6 mM and over, the value of m[image], i.e., 21.0, is within error the same for Hb in soln. as in the red cell. This indicates that at high [O2] values diffusion through the membrane and substance of the red cell has no limiting effect on the velocity of the overall reaction. At lower [O2] values theoretical calculations suggest that the rate in the red cell would be less than in soln. but this has not yet been exptlly. verified. The value of m at 37[degree] C is 0.1. The time for half dissociation of human COHb is thus 6.9 seconds in the body. A minimum value for the permeability of the red cell membrane to O2 is given. The kinetic data of this paper are available for several physiological problems such as the rate of uptake and output of CO from the human body and the calculation of the avg. time spent by the blood in the lung capillaries.

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