Effect of 2 hours' exposure to simulated high altitude (4,500 m) on human red cell metabolism

The problem of tissue oxygenation in diabetes mellitus

In order to study the determining factors for oxygen transport the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve (ODC), red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), and plasma inorganic phosphate were estimated in insulin-requiring juvenile and adult diabetics in various conditions of metabolic control. 2,3-DPG has been shown to vary much more in diabetics than in normals, depending upon the state of metabolic control. These fluctuations of 2,3-DPG are mediated by variations in plasma inorganic phosphate as indicated by a close correlation. While 2,3-DPG was markedly decreased in diabetic ketoacidosis, it tended to be increased in ambulatory, non-acidotic patients. Since in the non-acidotic patients the oxygen-carrying capacity, i.e. the haemoglobin concentration was simultaneously elevated, these findings suggest the presence of relative tissue hypoxia in diabetes. Both in non-acidotic and in ketoacidotic patients there was a strong correlation between the amount of 2,3-DPG and the P50 at actual pH as an experssion of the oxygen affinity of haemoglobin. In order to guarantee an optimal erythrocyte oxygen release in diabetics the content of red cell 2,3-DPG and plasma inorganic phosphate should be higher than normal.

Correlated in vivo 31P-NMR and NADH fluorometric studies on gerbil brain in graded hypoxia and hyperoxia

Mitochondrial energy coupling in the gerbil brain was characterized by the relationship between intracellular phosphocreatine (PCr)/inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphorylation ratio, and the mitochondrial redox state in graded hypoxia. Phosphorus-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the brain and whole head were taken by surface and saddle coil, respectively. The NADH level of the brain cortex was monitored by in vivo fluororeflectometry. The PCr and Pi of the head and brain did not change between 100 and 10% O2 inhalation. PCr progressively decreased and Pi progressively increased with 6 and 4% 0% inhalation in the head. The PCr/Pi of the brain decreased by 44% at 6% fraction of inhaled oxygen (FIO2) and 57% at 4% FIO2. The ATP level did not change during hypoxia. The calculated phosphorylation ratio of the brain ([PCr] Kck[H+]/[Cr][Pi]) = ([ATP]/[ADP][Pi]) was 4.1 X 10(4) M-1 in normoxia. Hypoxia of increasing severity induced increasing NAD reduction of the brain cortex with 17% NAD reduction at 10% FIO2 when there was no change in phosphorylation ratio. The phosphorylation ratio decreased, i.e., the mitochondria failed to maintain the energy level of the brain when the magnitude of the change in NAD reduction to hypoxia was half of the total redox change between hyperoxia and anoxia. These studies demonstrated the feasibility of combined 31P-NMR and NADH fluorometry measurements on brain in vivo. The observations show similarities between the responses of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to hypoxia in vivo and in vitro.