HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kovacs, F. M. Articles by San Román, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kovacs, F. M. Articles by San Román, F.

Experimental Study on Radioactive Pathways of Hypodermically Injected Technetium-99m

Kovacs Foundation, Palma de Mallorca
Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital Clinic i Provincial, Barcelona
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Dr. F. M. Kovacs, Fundación Kovacs, Paseo de Mallorca 36, 07012 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the biological substrate of radioactive pathways of migration of hypodermically injected ^99mTc into points of low electrical resistance. Sixteen anesthetized adult male beagles were used. Control and test points were defined by comparing their electrical resistance to that of the pinna. Seventy-three experiments of three different types were performed: (1)separate hypodermic injections of [^99mTc] sodium pertechnetate, ²⁰¹Tl-chloride, ¹³¹INa and Tc-rhenium sulfide into control and test points; (2) simultaneous injections of [^99mTc]sodium pertechnetate and ²⁰¹Tl chloride into control and test points; and (3) intravascular injections of ^99mTcO₄ into blood vessels underlying test points. Only the hypodermic injection of ^99mTc into points of low electrical resistance gave rise to a specific radioactive pathway characterized by rapid and longitudinal migration, clearly independent of background activity. The specific radioactive pathway detected is not the result of diffusion of the radiotracer through nerves, veins or lymphatic vessels, but its trajectory coincides with that described for one of the acupuncture meridians in the dog.