The free cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels in duchenne muscular dystrophy lymphocytes

Abstract

An increased cellular Ca²⁺ content has been associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, estimates of the free cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) in cells of DMD patients were not available. We compared the [Ca²⁺]i levels of normal and DMD peripheral blood lymphocytes and Epstein‐Barr virus‐transformed lymphoblasts using the novel probe, quin 2, an internally trapped fluorescent indicator. The [Ca²⁺]i levels of normal and DMD cells were not significantly different.