Sarcolemma blebs and cell damage in mammalian skeletal muscle.

Plasma membrane blebs are an early sign of cellular damage in isolated cells. Phenazine methosulphate (PMS) triggers the production of conspicuous and characteristic sarcolemma blebs in mouse diaphragm skeletal muscle incubated in vitro and also causes severe myofilament damage. It is suggested that PMS activates transmembrane NAD(P)H dehydrogenases and, in turn, a modification of sulphydryl groups of the cytoskeleton, thereby permitting bleb formation in contracting cells.