Elevation of serum albumin by intrahepatic transplantation of albumin-producing cells does not correct quantitative abnormalities of non-albumin proteins in analbuminemic rats.

Nagase analbuminemic rats (NAR) show quantitative abnormalities of non-albumin serum proteins which could represent a compensatory response to the analbuminemia, although total serum protein levels are normal. When hyperplastic hepatic nodule (HPN) cells of F344 rats, which produce albumin, were infused into the portal vein of congenic analbuminemic rats (F344-alb) followed by treatment with the Solt and Farber dietary regimen, the transplanted cells grew within the livers, occasionally developing into hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). In the recipient F344-alb, while serum albumin was considerably elevated, the total serum protein was also increased. Moreover, the abnormal pattern of serum proteins in NAR was unchanged by the elevation of albumin. These results indicate that the unique pattern of serum proteins in NAR is constitutive and cannot be corrected by a continuous increase in albumin levels.