can red blood cells (RBC's) use the oxygen they transport?

Answer 1

No, RBC's do not normally need oxygen so oxygen are of no use to them. They mainly transports oxygen (so with carbon dioxide).

Red blood cells just like the other cells undergoes metabolism to remain viable. However, the main difference is that RBC's are able to metabolize glucose WITHOUT OXYGEN through the glycolysis cycle called "Embden-Meyerhof ANAEROBIC PATHWAY" for ATP production.Obviously, anaerobic clearly implies no OXYGEN involvement along the process.

Another mechanism that will explain is the The Pentose-Phosphate pathway which converts oxidized glutathione to it reduced form. The reduced glutathione stabilizes the reduced state of hemoglobin. Glutathione maintains hemoglobin in its reduced state (Fe++), preventing oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups in the hemoglobin molecules and further reduction to Fe+++ (methemoglobin).

Obviously, the cells won't use the oxygen because if reduced hemoglobin changes to the oxidized form, it will denature and precipitate out as Heinz bodies (denatured hemoglobin). Also accumulation of oxidized form (methemoglobin) will change the structure of the cell membrane, weakening it, and rendering it susceptible to rupture/hemolysis.

Answer 2

They don't have a nucleus nor a mitochondrion.
Those 2 are the bases of oxygen use. Without those organelles in such cell there is no way oxygen can be used. Red Blood Cells are basically transporters only and if you look at it, the red blood cell is nothing but a container. Yet a change in its shape can change someone's life.

Answer 3

They transfer the oxygen to the portal vein for use. They do not use oxygen.

Answer 4

No.