Heritable variation in erythrocyte membranes of mice with muscular dystrophy.

Several physical and chemical characteristics of erythrocyte membranes from dystrophic mice differ from those of controls. In this study it is postulated that there is a heritable antigenic characteristic in erythrocyte membranes of dystrophic mice that is associated with muscular dystrophy. Accordingly, antisera were prepared in goats against erythrocyte membranes from dystrophic mice. These antisera discriminated between membranes from control mice and membranes from three different strains of dystrophic mice. Preliminary data on carrier detection are consistent with the hypothesis that the antigen is manifest in membranes of carriers.