Electron spin resonance spin label studies of the erythrocyte membrane in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The membrane organisation of erythrocytes from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and from asymptomatic carriers was studied by the electron spin resonance (ESR) spin label technique. Following the work of Sato et al [1978], we used 2-(14-carboxytetradecyl)-2-ethyl-4, 4-dimethyl-3-oxazolidinyloxyl as probe. We found no significant difference in lipid fluidity at 30 degrees C, measured by the ratio of the line height at central field to that at high field ho/h-1, in DMD patients or carriers compared to appropriate control persons. Our conclusions for the dystrophic boys differ from those of Sato et al [1978], although our data are consistent with theirs within experimental error. We also studied the variation of the ratio ho/h-1 over the temperature range 5-35 degrees C in these individuals. For normal erythrocytes there is a discontinuity in this plot around 15 degrees C that is absent in the erythrocytes of DMD patients [in agreement with the findings of Sato et al, 1978] and also absent in DMD carriers. We suggest the slope of this logarithmic temperature plot over the range 15-35 degrees C is a more useful empirical parameter as the presence of these discontinuities is sometimes uncertain, and using this parameter, we find a clear separation between carriers and controls.