A COMPARISON OF THE OXYGEN DISSOCIATION CURVES OF THE BLOODS OF MATERNAL, FETAL AND NEWBORN SHEEP AT VARIOUS pHs

Abstract

Oxygen dissociation curves of the bloods of pregnant sheep, fetal and newborn lambs have been prepared at plasma hydrogen‐ion concentrations in the physiological range. At pH 7·4, the fetal blood was half saturated at about 16·0 mm.Hg oxygen pressure. The maternal oxygen dissociation curves of the blood different animals showed variability in their positions; half saturation occurred at values of oxygen pressure ranging from 31·6 to 37·5 mm. Hg. The curves bloods of newborn lambs had positions intermediate between fetal and adult types.