Lymph heart scintigraphy in the toad.
To our knowledge, there are no reports on the use of radionuclide labeled agents to image the lymphatic system of anuran amphibia. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed in 18 toads Bufo marinus L, after the injection of Tc-99m-serum albumin within the ventral lymph sac. Images were obtained with a rectilinear scanner immediately after tracer administration. Scintigrams were digitalized and densitometric profiles were obtained. One or more lymph hearts were demonstrated on all 18 scans. Scintigrams showed the four lymph hearts functioning simultaneously in only 17% of the toads. Lymphoscintigraphy with Tc-99m serum albumin is useful to study the movement of lymph from the lymph sacs or to study the function of lymph hearts in amphibia.
Malpica-Albert
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Department of Physiological Sciences, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Carbobo, Valencia, Venezuela. omalpica@uc.edu.ve
D000818:Animals; D002024:Bufo marinus; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000378:metabolism; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000378:metabolism; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin