Although not significant due to the small sample size, a trend toward increased BAL Muc5b content, as measured by mucin agarose Western blot (Figure 8B) and sialic acid/urea ratio (Figure 8C), was also observed in BAL samples harvested from these 3 CF rabbits as compared with control WT/Het littermates. This evidence concerns the gene MUC5B and cystic fibrosis.