The Effect of Bicarbonate, PCO2and pH on Serum Calcium Fractions

Abstract

The problem whether bicarbonate and P_CO2 have specific effects on serum calcium fractions has been studied by ultrafiltration and spectro-photometric methods. The results show that around 0.1 mmol Ca/1 normal serum is complexed to bicarbonate. The effects of pH and temperature on protein-binding of calcium were the same in the presence and absence of bicarbonate. The increase in protein-binding was linear between pH 7 and 8 and averaged 20 per cent of total calcium irrespective the way the pH changes were produced.