title: Duchenne muscular dystrophy: plasma membrane loss initiates muscle cell necrosis unless it is repaired.
abstract: Study of biopsies from 30 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy suggests that necrosis of muscle cells is initiated by loss of plasma membrane, followed, after a short interval, by Z disc lysis and mitochondrial changes to constitute the picture of fully developed necrosis. Empty basal lamina tubes containing collagen indicated that regeneration may fail to occur. The tubes form a basis for collagen deposition. Evidence suggests that small patches of membrane loss can be repaired, though a slice of superficial cytoplasm is lost, and a piece of detached basal lamina results. The markedly hypercontracted fibres seen did not show features of necrosis.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000473:pathology*; D009336:Necrosis; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012038:Regeneration