Functional properties of hemoglobin in human red cells: II. Determination of the Bohr effect.

Parameters of the Bohr effect (delta log P50/delta pHi) for human normal red blood cell suspensions have been calculated between intracellular pH (pHi) 5.5 and 8.5, in order to test how these quantities compare with those measured in dilute human hemoglobin solution (Hb). For a precise comparison between red cell and Hb solutions data, the cells were fractionated to reduce cellular heterogeneity and depleted of their 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) content. The P50 values were related to pHi. From the value of the Donnan equilibrium factor rH+ and the cellular water content at each extracellular pH (pHe), the variations of the intracellular chloride concentration were calculated. This quantity exhibited a three fold change between pHi 5.5 and 8.5, with extracellular chloride concentration [Cl-]e fixed at 140 mM. In the absence of DPG, chloride is the main allosteric effector of Hb and increases the alkaline Bohr effect. When all these interacting factors are accounted for, the oxygen affinity and Bohr parameters for red cell suspensions become identical to those observed for dilute Hb solutions. These results indicate that the hydration of the Hb molecules in the highly concentrated red cell milieu is not much different from that of nearly ideal solutions.