Effect of hypoxia on the composition and state of lipids and oxygen-transport properties of erythrocyte haemoglobin

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the composition and state of erythrocytic lipids and oxygen-binding properties of erythrocyte haemoglobin-derived haematoporphyrin under hypoxia. The results from this study showed that hypoxia causes a profound change in the composition of the lipids that form the bilayer of erythrocyte membranes, as well as in the functional characteristics of erythrocytes. The detected changes correlate with morphological reconstruction of erythrocytes and, consequently, affect the oxygen-transport properties of erythrocytes. The obtained results showed that the lipid phase plays an important role in the functioning of erythrocytes in health as well as in event of development of ischemic heart disease and other pathological processes that accompany hypoxia.

Keywords

• Erythrocytes
• haemoglobin
• haematoporphyrin
• hypoxia
• phospholipids
• fat acids