Expert: Florence M Rollwagen - 9/19/2008

Question
Hello,

Question

Could deoxygenated (fresh or frozen) blood re-oxygenated after exposing to Oxygen? If yes, could all the blood re-oxygenate as one part or only the surface blood which directly attached to the ambient air.

Sincerely yours,

kamal

Answer
Hi Kamal:  Thanks for your question.

The short answer is yes.

The blood will re-oxygenate relative to the rate that oxygen dissolves in the fluid.  So the blood cells closer to the surface will oxygenate first.  Then as oxygen diffuses, the red cells lower down will become oxygenated.

Generally speaking, oxygen should be bubbled through the system, but this could cause mechanical damage to the cells.

You should also know that hypoxia-reoxygenation of red cells causes a number of metabolic defects in the cells, including damage to the Na/K pump, and ATP loss.

Red cells, even though they have no nucleus are still alive and metabolizing.

I hope this answer has helped you.  Please write back if you have more questions.

FM Rollwagen, PhD