The key difference between Bohr effect and Haldane effect is that the Bohr effect is the decrease of hemoglobin’s oxygen binding capacity, causing an increase in carbon dioxide concentration or a decrease in pH, while the Haldane effect is the decrease of hemoglobin’s carbon dioxide binding capacity, causing an increase in oxygen concentration.
Hemoglobin is made up of four subunits. It can bind up to four oxygen molecules at a time. Carbon dioxide levels, pH of blood, the temperature of blood, environmental factors, and diseases may affect its hemoglobin’s oxygen-carrying capacity and delivery. Also, the Bohr effect and Haldane effect are two phenomena affecting hemoglobon’s oxygen-carrying capacity.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Bohr Effect
3. What is Haldane Effect
4. Similarities – Bohr Effect and Haldane Effect
5. Bohr Effect vs Haldane Effect in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Bohr Effect vs Haldane Effect
What is Bohr Effect?
The Bohr effect is a phenomenon first described by Danish physiologist Christian Bohr in 1904. According to this phenomenon, hemoglobin’s oxygen binding affinity is inversely related to both acidity and concentration of carbon dioxide. Bohr effect is the decrease of hemoglobin’s oxygen binding capacity with an increase in carbon dioxide concentration or a decrease in pH. Therefore, the Bohr effect refers to a shift in the oxygen dissociation curve caused by changes in the concentration of CO2 or the pH of the environment.
Since CO2 reacts with water and forms carbonic acid, an increase in CO2 results in a decrease in blood pH. Eventually, this results in the decrease of hemoglobin’s oxygen binding capacity due to hemoglobin proteins releasing their load of oxygen. Conversely, when there is a decrease in carbon dioxide, it provokes an increase in pH, which results in the increase of hemoglobin’s oxygen binding capacity due to hemoglobin picking up more oxygen. Furthermore, the Bohr effect is important because it improves oxygen supply to muscles and tissues where metabolism takes place. This is very crucial as the Bohr effect aids in the delivery of oxygen to the areas where it is most needed.
What is Haldane Effect?
The Haldane effect is the decrease of hemoglobin’s carbon dioxide binding capacity with an increase in oxygen concentration. The Haldane effect is a property of hemoglobin. This phenomenon was first described by John Scott Haldane in 1914. John Scott Haldane was a Scottish physician and physiologist famous for many of his important discoveries about the human body and the nature of gases.
The oxygenation of blood in the lungs displaces CO2 from hemoglobin, increasing the removal of CO2. The affinity for CO2 in oxygenated blood is low. Therefore, the Haldane effect describes the ability of hemoglobin to carry increased amounts of CO2 in the deoxygenated state as opposed to the oxygenated state. Moreover, a high concentration of CO2 facilitates the dissociation of oxyhemoglobin. This phenomenon explains why patients with lung diseases may not be able to increase alveolar ventilation in the face of increased amounts of CO2.
What are the Similarities Between Bohr Effect and Haldane Effect?
- Bohr effect and Haldane effect are two phenomena that affect hemoglobon’s oxygen-carrying capacity.
- Both effects are properties of hemoglobin.
- They have clinical significance.
- Both effects were found at the beginning of the 19th.
What is the Difference Between Bohr Effect and Haldane Effect?
Bohr effect is the decrease of hemoglobin’s oxygen binding capacity with an increase in carbon dioxide concentration or a decrease in pH, while the Haldane effect is the decrease of hemoglobin’s carbon dioxide binding capacity with an increase in oxygen concentration. Thus, this is the key difference between Bohr Effect and Haldane Effect.
The following table summarizes the difference between Bohr Effect and Haldane Effect.
Summary – Bohr Effect vs Haldane Effect
Bohr effect and Haldane effect are two phenomena related to hemoglobon’s oxygen-carrying capacity. Bohr effect is the decrease in hemoglobin’s oxygen binding capacity with an increase in carbon dioxide concentration or a decrease in pH. Meanwhile, the Haldane effect is the decrease in hemoglobin’s carbon dioxide binding capacity with an increase in oxygen concentration. So, this summarizes the difference between Bohr effect and Haldane effect.
Reference:
1. “Bohr Effect.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
2. “Haldane Effect.” OpenAnesthesia.
Image Courtesy:
1. “2319 Fig 23.19” By OpenStax College – Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site, Jun 19, 2013. (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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