Properties of enzymatically isolated skeletal fibres from mice with muscular dystrophy.

Abstract

1. Single intact muscle fibres were enzymatically isolated from the skeletal muscles of the dystrophic mouse 129/ReJ dy/dy and were subjected to a range of physiological interventions. 2. Electrophysiological measurements, diffusion of injected dyes (Lucifer Yellow), microdissection and general appearance in the light microscope have shown that the majority of skeletal fibres isolated from the soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) of adult dystrophic mice (10‐14 weeks old) had gross morphological abnormalities. These abnormalities ranged from simple branching of the fibre to interconnections of many fibre branches which form a complex syncitium. 3. Segments from fibres of normal appeara..