Reciprocal Blood Exchange in Parabiosed Albino Rats

¹ From the Department of Anatomy, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York

Serial electrophoretic studies on single rats, sham-operated single rats, treated and untreated successful parabiosed pairs of rats demonstrated that the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio reflects the state and condition of the animals. The individually characteristic electrophoretic patterns and A/G ratios of single animals exhibit close similarity when single animals are surgically united and attain the successful parabiotic state. After a brief period of similarity, the individual electrophoretic patterns and A/G ratios reassert themselves; the animals meanwhile continue in successful union. Continued serial examination of the serum of successfully parabiotic pairs disclosed that an apparent exchange of A/G ratios occurred between the parabionts. This finding suggests that intermittent uneven reciprocal exchange has occurred. Other significant changes in the levels of the various serum components are described.