ERYTHROCYTE PLASMA-MEMBRANE IN MURINE MUSCULAR-DYSTROPHY - SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC AND FREEZE-FRACTURE STUDY

The plasma membrane of red blood cells from mice afflicted with congenital muscular dystrophy exhibits a dramatic depletion of intramembrane particles. Examination of protein particles on fracture faces of erythrocyte plasma membranes from dystrophic mice revealed a 33% decrease in the number of intramembrane particles when compared with similarly prepared erythrocytes from nondystrophic animals. This alteration in the internal molecular architecture of these plasma membranes is correlated with the morphological distortion manifested by most red blood cells from mice inflicted with this genetic disorder.