Decreased chemiluminescence in thymocytes of dystrophic hamsters

When thymocytes are stimulated they generate reactive oxygen species, which under appropriate conditions produce chemiluminescence (CL). The reactions occur near the cell surface. Since genetically determined muscular dystrophies are currently considered "membrane diseases," we tested the CL of thymocytes from dystrophic hamsters, strain BIO 14.6, in comparison with control animals of the Rb-strain. CL of 33 x 10(6) thymocytes each was monitored in a liquid scintillation counter at 32 C. Dystrophic cells stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) reached only 60% of the normal peak CL. When stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187, dystrophic cells exhibited only 40% of the peak CL of control cells. The thymus weight of dystrophic hamsters was significantly reduced. It is not known yet whether these alterations of the thymus are secondary to extrathymic factors or whether they are intrinsic to the thymocyte. If the latter is true, it would be an indication that the genetic defect of dystrophic hamsters is also expressed in the thymus.