Increased membrane permeability to chloride in Duchenne muscular dystrophy fibroblasts and its relationship to muscle function.

Previous studies have suggested an abnormality in Cl- metabolism in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) fibroblasts. In order to further characterize this abnormality, we have studied 36Cl- distribution and permeability in 11 DMD and 12 normal fibroblast lines. Under steady-state conditions Cl- efflux in fibroblasts is observed to be biphasic, revealing the presence of two major subcellular compartments. Each compartment contains approximately half of the cellular Cl-. The faster of the two observed efflux components is significantly higher in DMD than in control fibroblasts (P less than 0.001). To determine the results of a similar increase in Cl- permeability on skeletal muscle action potentials, we have simulated the effects of increased Cl- conductance on muscle by using a computer model. Effects on the simulated action potential include lower rates of membrane depolarization, lower overpotential, longer duration, and lower input resistance. These effects are similar to those actually observed in DMD muscle.