Albumin-deficient rat mutant.

An analbuminemic colony was established from Sprague-Dawley rats. Analbuminemia was inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The rates of growth and reproduction of the mutant rats were no different from those of normal rats. Biochemically, the mutant was characterized by an extraordinarily low serum albumin content and a hyperlipidemia. Total serum protein in the mutant rat was similar to that of control Sprague-Dawley rats, with increased globulin. Serum cholesterol was inversely correlated with a decrease in albumin; the correlation coefficient for ablumin was --.92. These mutant rats may serve as a model of human familial analbuminemia and may also be useful in elucidating the functional roles of albumin.