Albumin-deficient rat mutant: an animal model for analbuminemia.

An analbuminemic rat colony (NAR, Nagase Analbuminemia Rat) was established from Sprague-Dawley rats. The Analbuminemia was inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The rate of growth or propagation of the mutant rats was not different from those of normal rats. Biochemically the mutant was characterized by an extraordinarily low serum albumin and hyperlipidemia. Total protein level of the serum in the mutant rat was similar to that of control Sprague-Dawley rats and globulin increased compensatorily. Serum cholesterol concentration was inversely correlated with a decrease in albumin, its correlation coefficient was -0.92. NAR may serve as a model of human familial analbuminemia. It should be also useful in elucidating the functional roles of albumin.