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. 1968 Dec;47(12):2652–2656. doi: 10.1172/JCI105948

Effect of altitude on oxygen binding by hemoglobin and on organic phosphate levels

Claude Lenfant 1,2,3, John Torrance 1,2,3, Eugenia English 1,2,3, Clement A Finch 1,2,3, Cesar Reynafarje 1,2,3, Jose Ramos 1,2,3, Jose Faura 1,2,3
PMCID: PMC297436  PMID: 5725278

Abstract

The relationship between oxygen dissociation and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in the red cell has been studied in subjects moving from low to high altitude and vice versa. Within 24 hr following the change in altitude there was a change in hemoglobin affinity for oxygen; this modification therefore represents an important rapid adaptive mechanism to anoxia. A parallel change occurred in the organic phosphate content of the red cell. While this study does not provide direct evidence of a cause-effect relationship, the data strongly suggest that with anoxia, the observed rise in organic phosphate content of the red cell is responsible for increased availability of oxygen to tissues.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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