Electrophoretic Studies on the Serum Protein Pattern of the Germfree Rat and Its Changes upon Exposure to a Conventional Bacterial Flora

Abstract

Germfree rats were taken out of the Reyniers germfree system and the electrophoretic pattern of the serum studied directly after removal and after exposure to a conventional environment and contact with conventional rats for various lengths of time. Compared to the values found in conventional rats, the germfree animals show lower α-2, β- and γ-globulin values, but higher albumin levels. After 1 week of exposure the exgermfree rats demonstrated an increase of the serum α-2 fraction followed in the second week by an increase in the β fraction. Only after more than 2 weeks of exposure the serum 7gg-globulin fraction was found to increase. As the globulin content increased, a concomitant decrease of the serum albumin fraction occurred causing the total serum protein content of germfree, “transition” and conventional animals to be approximately the same.