Study on conformational changes in hemoglobin protoporphyrin in essential hypertension.

Changes in protoporphyrin conformation, partial pressures of O2 and CO2, and the mechanisms responsible for regulation of pCa and pH in erythrocytes were studied in essential hypertension (EH). Changes in protoporphyrin conformation in EH were accompanied by a decrease in the partial pressure of O2 and an increase in the partial pressure of CO2. This was associated with increased activities of Na+/H+-exchange and Ca2+-dependent K+-channels and with a decreased activity of Ca2+-ATPase. The changes in protoporphyrin conformation in EH are suggested to decrease the efficiency of O2 metabolism in hemoglobin and increase the values of intracellular pCa and pH of erythrocytes.