Lyon phenomenon in ouabain-treated erythrocytes of Duchenne muscular dystrophy carriers as revealed by cell electrophoresis.

Using the cell-electrophoretic method, 0.1 mM ouabain/l Eagle MEM medium caused a moderate decrease in electrophoretic migration time (EMT) of erythrocytes in 19 out of 23 DMD-affected patients. In 8 out of 10 healthy boys, 0.1 mM ouabain induced an increase in erythrocyte EMT. Under the influence of 0.1 mM ouabain, the erythrocytes clearly showed a bimodal distribution of EMT in 9 out of 13 definite carriers and in 8 out of 17 possible carriers. In DMD patients, and in 10 healthy boys and 10 healthy women, no bimodal distribution of EMT was observed.