Thyroid Hormones and the Oxygen Affinity of Hemoglobin
Authors: GEORGE C. SCHUSSLER
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1971)

Editorial Notes1 April 1971Thyroid Hormones and the Oxygen Affinity of HemoglobinGEORGE C. SCHUSSLER, M.D., F.A.C.P., HELEN M. RANNEY, M.D.GEORGE C. SCHUSSLER, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this author, HELEN M. RANNEY, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-74-4-632 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe discovery of the regulatory effect of organic phosphates on the oxygen affinity of human hemoglobin has clarified several previously mystifying clinical observations. Solutions of human hemoglobin were known for many years to have a higher affinity for oxygen than did normal red blood cells. Benesch, Benesch, and Yu observed that when 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), the principal organic phosphate of the red cell, was added to phosphate-free hemoglobin solutions, the oxygen affinity of the hemoglobin decreased to levels encountered in intact erythrocytes (1). They found that 1 mole of deoxyhemoglobin (but not oxyhemoglobin) binds 1 mole of 2,3-DPG; the binding occurs...References1. BENESCHBENESCHYU RRC: Reciprocal binding of oxygen and diphosphoglycerate by human hemoglobin. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 59:526-532, 1968 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. LENFANTTORRANCEENGLISH CJE: Effect of altitude on oxygen binding by hemoglobin and on organic phosphate levels. J Clin Invest 47:2652-2656, 1968 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. EATONBREWER JG: The relationship between red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and levels of hemoglobin in the human. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 61:756-760, 1968 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. GAHLENBECKBARTELS HH: Veränderung der Sauerstoffbindungskurven des Blutes bei Hyperthyreosen und nach Gabe von Trijodthyronin bei Gesunden und bei Ratten. Klin Wschr 46:547, 1968 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. GROSZFARMER HB: Reduction-oxidation potential of blood determined by oxygen releasing factor in thyroid disorders. Nature (London) 222:875-876, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. MILLERDELIVORIA-PAPADOPOULOSMILLER WML: Oxygen releasing factor in hyperthyroidism. JAMA 211:1824-1826, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. SNYDERREDDY LW: Mechanism of action of thyroid hormones on erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid synthesis. J Clin Invest 49:1993-1998, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. WOLFFWOLFF EJ: The mechanism of action of the thyroid hormones, in The Thyroid Gland, vol. I, edited by PITT-RIVERS R, TROTTER WR. London, Butterworths & Co., Publishers, Ltd., 1964 Google Scholar9. LEVEYEPSTEIN GS: Myocardial adenyl cyclase: activation by thyroid hormones and evidence for two adenyl cyclase systems. J Clin Invest 48:1663-1669, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: State University of New York at Buffalo Buffalo, N.Y. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThyroid Hormone and Myocardial Metabolism after Heart Surgery in DogsFrequency of hypothyroidism in adults with serum total cholesterol levels >200 mg/dlHypothyroidism Complicated by Angina Pectoris: Therapeutic ApproachesThyroid DisordersClinical Significance of 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate in HematologyAnemia in Thyroid DiseasesThe Preparation of Synthetic‐polymer Fibres and their BlendsUntersuchungen zum Verhalten der Sauerstoff-Dissoziationskurve des Blutes bei extrakorporaler ZirkulationReferences 1 April 1971Volume 74, Issue 4Page: 632-633KeywordsHemoglobinOxygenOxyhemoglobinPhosphatesRed blood cellsThyroid hormones Issue Published: 1 April 1971 PDF downloadLoading ...