[A study of mitochondrial electron transfer chain in myotonic dystrophy]

Ragged-red fibers (RRFs) are mainly seen in mitochondrial myopathy and related to biochemical defects in electron transfer chain on some occasions. Recently, some papers reported the occurrence of RRFs in the biopsied muscle of myotonic dystrophy (MyD). To examine whether the mitochondrial function is disturbed in MyD, we have studied the biopsied muscles of 12 cases with MyD (10 males and 2 females averaging 38 years of age) morphologically and mainly biochemically. RRFs, ranging from 2--20% of the muscle fibers, were identified in 5 out of 12 cases. On electron microscopy, these fibers had aggregated abnormally enlarged mitochondria with dene bodies, concentrically whirled membranous cristae and paracrystalline inclusions. Clinically, 4 of 5 cases with RRFs had mild to moderate and only 2 of 7 without RRFs had ophthalmoplegia. Bicycle ergometer exercise test showed abnormal increase of lactate/pyruvate ratio in three cases with RRFs. Histochemically, cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity was absent selectively in all of the RRFs. Immunohistochemical staining showed the presence of CCO protein by using monoclonal antibody which was specific to CCO subunit IV. Biochemical study with crude muscle extract of 11 cases of MyD showed decreases in NADH dehydrogenase, NADH CoQ reductase, succinate CoQ reductase (SCR), CCO, carnitine actyl transferase activities in most of cases regardless RRFs. To avoid the influence possibly derived from the various stages of muscle degeneration in the biopsied specimens, we calculated the ratio of the enzyme activities compared with succinate dehydrogenase which was located in the electron transfer chain and did not show any statistical difference regardless of RRFs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)