The sex difference in haemoglobin levels in adults - mechanisms, causes, and consequences.
Blood Rev
; 28(2): 41-7, 2014 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24491804
Men and women have different mean haemoglobin levels in health in venous blood - women have mean levels approximately 12% lower than men. A similar sex-related difference in haemoglobin levels in adult animals is found in many species of mammals, birds and reptiles, indicating that it is an important physiological phenomenon. It is probably a direct effect of sex hormones, both oestrogen and androgens, on erythropoiesis. However, since there is no difference in erythropoietin levels between the sexes, this effect most likely takes place in the kidney, rather than in the bone marrow. Oestrogens dilate and androgens constrict the renal microvasculature: dilation and vasoconstriction in vessels below 300 µm in diameter respectively increase and decrease the haematocrit in blood in arterioles, capillaries and venules, altering the oxygen delivery per unit red cell mass, and providing a mechanism for varying the red cell mass without compensatory changes in erythropoiesis.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Hemoglobinas
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Blood Rev
Asunto de la revista:
HEMATOLOGIA
Año:
2014
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Irlanda
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido