Figure 5.

Reciprocal kidney transplantation experiments in transgenic rats. (A) Experimental design where the kidneys of seven transgenic rats (from different found lines) were transplanted into nontransgenic recipients. (B) Renal function test before euthanization showed no abnormalities. (C) Renal histology of the transplanted kidneys was normal in all seven rats. (D) Concentrations of transgenic albumin in the serum as determined by ELISA showed a progressive increase over time. (E) In the reverse experiment, nontransgenic allogenic kidneys were transplanted into transgenic recipients of different founder lines, which were subsequently nephrectomized. (F and G) Renal function tests and histology again showed no abnormalities. (H) After the second nephrectomy, transgenic albumin concentrations fell rapidly below detection levels, indicating that the transgenic albumin was not derived from an extrarenal source.