title: Tracheal mucociliary transport rate in awake dogs.
abstract: To measure tracheal mucociliary transport rate (TMTR) in awake dogs, restrained in dorsal recumbency, 99mtechnetium-labeled macroaggregated albumin was administered by tracheal injection, and the cephalic movement of boluses containing the radiopharmaceutical was detected by a gamma camera positioned lateral to the dog's head and neck. The distance traveled by each bolus was measured, relative to external markers placed a known distance apart. Tracheal mucociliary transport rates were calculated by dividing the measured distance of radiopharmaceutical movement by elapsed time. The technique was efficient and well tolerated. Mean (+/- SD) TMTR was 35.3 +/- 15.9 mm/min. Significant (P = 0.029) difference in TMTR was found between males and females, but significant difference attributable to age of the dog was not detected. This method of measuring TMTR in awake dogs has potential for evaluation of clinical animal patients with suspected tracheal mucociliary abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Boothe
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Boothe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komkov
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Longnecker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hightower
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000502:physiology*; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D014132:Trachea / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin