<b>Adaptation to hypoxia: Changes in the level of erythrocyte 2.3-diphosphoglycerate and liver </b><b>adenylates </b>

Abstract

The effects of acute hypoxia (9% O2) on the levels of erythroycte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and hepatic adenine nucleotides were investigated. Measurements were made from both fed and starved mice. 1) Exposure of fed mice to 9% O2 rapidly increased erythrocyte 2,3-DPG, which is considered to be a reflection of metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. The liver adenylate pool remained unchanged for one day under hypoxic states, and a marked reduction in the hepatic adenylates occurred after 3 days. 2) When mice were starved, little or no increase in erythrocyte 2,3-DPG was observed, and hepatic adenylates decreased rapidly within 1 day.Thus, a decrease in the liver adenylate pool and an increase in erythrocyte 2,3-DPG, the most important factor favoring oxygen release at tissue levels, were demonstrated, and this suggests the importance of the adenylate level in liver for metabolic adaptation to hypoxia.KEY WORDS diphosphoglycerate / hypoxia / adaptation / liver adenylate pool