Summary
Platelets which have complex membranes and calcium shifts similar to those in muscles
were investigated in 14 patients with muscular dystrophy and 20 suitable controls.
In 4 Duchenne and one limb-girdle dystrophy aggregations were done and found to be
depressed with adrenaline and ADP. Electron microscopic and chemical examinations
revealed an increased number of dense bodies, changed permeability and/or binding
of cations and elevated intracellular calcium in all the 9 cases of Duchenne dystrophy
while the 2 limb-girdle and 3 myotonic dystrophies varied.
A two phase polymer separation system applied to fixed platelets of all patients and
controls showed no abnormality of surface negative charge.
Keywords
Platelet calcium - Adrenaline aggregation - Surface-charge