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. 1968 Dec;47(12):2652-6.
doi: 10.1172/JCI105948.

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

C Lenfant, J Torrance, E English, C A Finch, C Reynafarje, J Ramos, J Faura

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

C Lenfant et al. J Clin Invest. 1968 Dec.

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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