Sex differences in the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin

Summary The oxygen dissociation curves of 50 healthy young nonsmokers 25 women and 25 men, were investigated. The following parameters were deter-mined: hemoglobin concentration, microhematocrit, red cell count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, capillary blood pH,P₅₀ value, and the concentration of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate.P₅₀ values are significantly higher in the female group (28.3 mm Hg±0.4 S.E.M.) than in the male group (26.3 mm Hg±0.4 S.E.M.), indicating a lower oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in females.There is no significant difference between the DPG values. No significant negative correlation exists between the Hb concentration and theP₅₀ values.with the technical assistance of Monika Humpeler and Edith Gasser