LYMPH HEART SCINTIGRAPHY IN THE TOAD

Abstract

To our knowledge, there are no reports on the use of radionuclide labeled agents to imagethe lymphatic system of anuran amphibia. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed in 18 toads Bufomarinus L, after the injection of Tc-99m-serum albumin within the ventral lymph sac. Imageswere obtained with a rectilinear scanner immediately after tracer administration. Scintigramswere digitalized and densitometric profiles were obtained. One or more lymph hearts weredemonstrated on all 18 scans. Scintigrams showed the four lymph hearts functioningsimultaneously in only 17% of the toads. Lymphoscintigraphy with Tc-99m serum albumin isuseful to study the movement of lymph from the lymph sacs or to study the function of lymphhearts in amphibia