binding affinity facilitates O2 unloading from Hb, potentially increasing tissue mitochondrial O2 availability. We hypothesized that a reduction of Hb-O2 affinity would increase O2 extraction when tissues are O2 supply dependent, reducing the threshold of critical O2 delivery (DO2 CRIT). We investigated the effects of increased O2 tension at which Hb is 50% saturated (P50) on systemic O2 uptake (V O2 SYS), DO2 CRIT, lactate production, and acid-base balance during isovolemic hemodilution in conscious rats. After infusion of RSR13, an allosteric modifier of Hb, P 50 increased from 36.6 Ϯ 0.3 to 48.3 Ϯ 0.6 but remained unchanged at 35.4 Ϯ 0.8 mmHg after saline (control, CON). Arterial O 2 saturations were equivalent between RSR13 and saline groups, but venous PO 2 was higher and venous O2 saturation was lower after RSR13. Convective O2 delivery progressively declined during hemodilution reaching the DO2 CRIT at 3.4 Ϯ 0.8 ml ⅐ min Ϫ1 ⅐ 100 g Ϫ1 (CON) and 3.6 Ϯ 0.6 ml ⅐ min Ϫ1 ⅐ 100 g Ϫ1 (RSR13). At Hb of 8.1 g/l V O2 SYS started to decrease (CON: 1.9 Ϯ 0.1; RSR13: 1.8 Ϯ 0.2 ml ⅐ min Ϫ1 ⅐ 100 g Ϫ1 ) and fell to 0.8 Ϯ 0.2 (CON) and 0.7 Ϯ 0.2 ml ⅐ min Ϫ1 ⅐ 100 g Ϫ1 (RSR13). Arterial lactate was lower in RSR13-treated than in control animals when animals were O 2 supply dependent. The decrease in base excess, arterial pH, and bicarbonate during O2 supply dependence was significantly less after RSR13 than after saline. These findings demonstrate that during O 2 supply dependence caused by severe anemia, reducing Hb-O2 binding affinity does not affect V O2 SYS Right shifting the ODC, or increasing the O 2 tension at which Hb is 50% saturated (P 50 ), favors release of O 2 from hemoglobin at higher tissue PO 2 (4, 13). As a consequence, the O 2 gradient between RBCs and the mitochondria is increased, and more of the O 2 transported in the blood is available for consumption in the tissues. This increased O 2 gradient between RBCs and mitochondria should allow O 2 to diffuse over longer distances or offering more O 2 for local mitochondrial metabolism.Recent research has led to the discovery of new allosteric modifiers of the Hb-O 2 affinity (1). RSR13, a 2- [4-[2-[(3,5-dimethylphenyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl]phenoxy]-2-methyl-proprionic acid monosodium salt, reliably reduces the Hb-O 2 affinity in vivo. Because RSR13 binds to a site distinct from that of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, the naturally occurring allosteric modifier of Hb, RSR13 generates an additive rightward shift of the ODC, which should facilitate added O 2 release (1). Superfusion of tissues with or infusion of RSR13 reduced hypoxia-induced vasodilation (44), increased tissue PO 2 (21), and reduced brain infarct size (43). During maximal exercise, low P 50 diminished maximal O 2 consumption (V O 2 max ) (14), whereas an increased P 50 by RSR13 enhanced maximal O 2 uptake (33). These findings suggest that modifications of the strength of the Hb-O 2 bond can effectively alter tissue O 2 availability.Under normal conditions, tissue O 2 availability and systemic V O 2 (V ...