Comparison between radioactive aerosol, technegas and krypton for ventilation imaging in healthy calves

The use of lung scintigraphy in calves necessitates the validation of a ventilation (V) imaging agent compatible with clinical applications. This study aimed at defining the value of an inhaled radioactive aerosol (99mTc-DTPA) and a 'pseudogas' (Technegas) in the assessment of regional V in healthy conscious calves by comparing 99mTc-DTPA and Technegas deposition (D) images to V(V) images obtained from the steady-state inhalation of the short half-life krypton 81 (81mKr) gas. Images were compared by analysis of radioactivity distribution in computer-generated regions of interest within the right lung and D to V ratio images were generated in order to highlight areas of mismatching between 99mTc-DTPA or Technegas and 81mKr distributions. Results of this analysis showed that the 99mTc-DTPA aerosol droplets were unable to reach the lung parenchyma because of significant particle impaction in the major conducting airways. Better definition of the ventilated lung was obtained when using Technegas because of minimal deposition in conducting airways. Furthermore, the Technegas and 81mKr distribution patterns were highly equivalent.     

Clearance of nasal mucus in nonanesthetized and anesthetized dogs

Clearance rates for nasal mucus in the maxillary turbinate region were measured in 8 Beagle dogs. 99mTc Macroaggregated albumin (10 microliters) was instilled in the nasal maxillary region of dogs under general anesthesia. A gamma camera was used to detect movement of the 99mTc macroaggregated albumin in the nose for 1 hour after it was instilled. Velocity of mucus was measured in the 8 dogs each under 3 conditions of anesthesia: anesthesia with pentobarbital given IV (20 mg/kg of body weight), anesthesia with halothane gas, and no anesthesia. Mean velocities (+/- SD) were 3.7 +/- 1.4 mm/min in dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital, 4.3 +/- 2.5 mm/min in dogs anesthetized with halothane, and 3.4 +/- 1.7 mm/min in awake dogs. The differences between the 3 anesthetic conditions were not significant at the P less than 0.05 level. Use of anesthesia at a light surgical plane provides a controlled method for measurement of clearance of nasal mucus with minimal alterations from the nonanesthetized state.     

Frequency of pulmonary mineralization and hypoxemia in 21 dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of hypoxemia and pulmonary mineralization using ^99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (^99mTc-MDP) in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). Twenty-one dogs with PDH were pro-spectively evaluated using thoracic radiography, arterial blood gas analysis, and bone phase and pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy (using ^99mTc-macro-aggregated albumin [^99mTc-MAA]). The radiographs and bone and perfusion studies were evaluated subjectively. An averaged quantitative count density ratio was calculated between the thorax and cranial thoraco-lumbar vertebrae from lateral thoracic ^99mTc-MDP images. Thoracic: vertebral ratios were calculated using ^99mTc-MDP studies from 21 control dogs. The thoracic: vertebral ratios were compared between the 2 groups (PDH and control). The mean age (±SD) of the 21 PDH dogs was 10.2 (±3) years, whereas the mean age of the control group was 9.8 (±3) years. Seven of the 21 dogs with PDH were hypoxemic (denned as an arterial partial pressure of oxygen [PaO₂] <80 mm Hg) with an average PaO₂ (±SD) of 62 (±15) mm Hg. Of the 7 hypoxemic dogs, 2 were found to have pulmonary mineralization based on bone scintigraphic images. Pulmonary perfusion abnormalities were not identified using ^99mTc-MAA in any of the 21 PDH dogs. Six PDH dogs had an abnormal interstitial pulmonary pattern and 5 of these dogs were hypoxemic. The average quantitative thoracic: vertebral ratio was not significantly different between the PDH and control dogs (0.5 ± 0.4 versus 0.4 ± 0.1, P = .16). Causes of hypoxemia other than pulmonary thromboembolism should be considered in dogs with PDH. Pulmonary mineralization may contribute to hypoxemia in dogs with PDH.     

Use of scintigraphy for assessment of fracture healing and early diagnosis of osteomyelitis following fracture repair in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate use of technetium Tc 99m disodium hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (99m-Tc-HDP) for assessing fracture healing and 99m-Tc-HDP and technetium Tc 99m ciprofloxacin (99m-Tc-CIPRO) for early diagnosis of osteomyelitis in rabbits. ANIMALS: 32 skeletally mature New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURE: A femoral fracture defect stabilized with bone plates and cortical screws was used. Scintigraphy was performed 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after surgery. The 99m-Tc-CIPRO scan was performed 48 hours after the 99m-Tc-HDP scan. The uptake ratio of the experimental limb to the normal limb was calculated by use of multiple regions of interest. Results of radiography performed to determine external callus and lysis grade and percentage defect ossification at 16 weeks were compared with scintigraphy results. RESULTS: Infected fractures had a higher uptake ratio for 99m-Tc-HDP and 99m-Tc-CIPRO than noninfected fractures. Infected fractures could be differentiated from noninfected fractures late in healing by use of 99m-Tc-HDP. Although 99m-Tc-CIPRO was better than 99m-Tc-HDP for identifying infection, there was a high incidence of false positive and negative results with 99m-Tc-CIPRO. There was an association between 99m-Tc-HDP uptake ratio and callus formation and a good correlation between 99m-Tc-HDP uptake ratio and defect ossification after 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: 99m-Tc-HDP and 99m-Tc-CIPRO may be useful for diagnosing osteomyelitis late in fracture healing; however, false positive and false negative results occur. Technetium Tc 99m disodium hydroxymethylene diphosphonate may be useful for evaluating fracture healing.     

Binding of ciprofloxacin labelled with technetium Tc 99m versus 99mTc-pertechnetate to a live and killed equine isolate of Escherichia coli

This paper describes a simple methodology for evaluating the bacterial binding of ciprofloxacin labelled with technetium Tc 99m. Using this methodology, the binding of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin by live Escherichia coli was compared with the binding of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin by killed E. coli and the binding of 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTcO4-) by live E. coli. The antimicrobial effect of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin on E. coli was evaluated. Four groups were defined: live E. coli with 99mTc-ciprofloxacin, live E. coli with 99mTcO4 , killed E. coli with 99mTc-ciprofloxacin, and killed E. coli with 99mTcO4-. After 0, 2, and 4 h of incubation of 1 x 10(8) colony-forming units of E. coli suspended in 5 mL of sterile distilled water with 1.85 MBq of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin or 99mTcO4, 1 mL from each sample was centrifuged. The radioactivity of the bacterial pellet and that of the supernatant were measured separately, and the percentage of sample radioactivity attributable to bacterial binding was calculated. Of the 99mTc-ciprofloxacin, 3.6% to 5.9% was bound to live or killed E. coli; only 0.1% to 0.2% of the 99mTcO4- was bound to live E. coli (P < 0.0001). No significant difference in 99mTc-ciprofloxacin binding was found between live and killed E. coli (P = 0.887). An antimicrobial effect on E. coli was seen with 99mTc-ciprofloxacin: colony counts were reduced after 4 h. The small amount of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin binding and the lack of difference in binding between live and killed E. coli may limit the utility of this methodology in evaluating the presence of E. coli infection.     

气相色谱-质谱法测定鸡蛋中三聚氰胺残留

采用气相色谱-质谱法(GC-MS)测定了鸡蛋中三聚氰胺残留。样品匀浆后,用三氯乙酸去蛋白提取,MCX柱净化,BSTFA和TMCS衍生化后,气相色谱-质谱检测。质谱定性离子为m/z342、327、171和99,定量离子为m/z327。方法定量限为0.5μg/g,添加浓度为0.5、2μg/g和10μg/g时的回收率在89.2%~96.2%之间,变异系数在2.9%~5.6%之间。     

猪细小病毒SY-99株非结构蛋白NS1基因的克隆及序列分析

猪细小病毒（Porcine parvovirus,PPV)SY-99株由本室分离，提取SY－99株的基因组DNA，利用PCR扩增出全长NS1基因，将该基因克隆到 核表达载体pET28a中并测序。结果表明，NS1基因全长1989bp，编码662个氨基酸，氨基酸序列中含有PP 制过程中发挥重要作用的保守基序GKRN，并有3个潜在的糖基化位点，分别位于356－359、446－449、513－516位氨基酸处，SY－99株NS1基因与其它PPV毒株NADL2－1、NADL2－2、Kresse株核苷酸同源性分别为98％、99％、99％，氨基酸同源性分别为97％、99％、995。SN1基因的克隆为研究NS1在PPV的复制中所发挥的功能及利用人工表达的NS1来制备诊断抗原提供了可能。     

Effect of four sedative and anesthetic protocols on quantitative thyroid scintigraphy in euthyroid cats

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of sedation and anesthesia on thyroid and salivary gland uptake of technetium Tc 99m pertechnetate ((99m)TcO(4)) in euthyroid cats. ANIMALS: 6 euthyroid cats. PROCEDURES: Thyroid scintigraphy was performed by use of a high-resolution low-energy parallel-hole collimator after IV injection of 117 to 133 MBq (3.16 to 3.59 mCi) of (99m)TcO(4)(-). The procedure was performed 4 times on each cat during different sedative and anesthetic protocols in a rotating schedule as follows: propofol, ketamine-midazolam-atropine, ketaminemidazolam, and medetomidine. Regions of interest were drawn around thyroid and salivary glands and counts corrected for background and decay. Percentage of (99m)TcO(4)(-) uptake in salivary and thyroid glands and thyroid-to-salivary gland (99m)TcO(4)(-) uptake ratio were calculated at 20 and 40 minutes. Relative effects of anesthesia and sedation on salivary and thyroid gland (99m)TcO(4)(-) uptake were compared. RESULTS: Significant differences among sedativeanesthetic protocols were found for thyroid gland (99m)TcO(4)(-) uptake, salivary gland (99m)TcO(4)(-) uptake, and thyroid-to-salivary gland (99m)TcO(4)(-) uptake ratio. Thyroid gland (99m)TcO(4)(-) uptake for the ketamine-midazolam protocol at 20 and 40 minutes after (99m)TcO(4)(-) administration was significantly higher than for the propofol protocol. A significant difference in salivary gland(99m) TcO(4)(-) uptake was found between ketamine-midazolam and ketamine-midazolam-atropine protocols at 40 minutes. The thyroid-to-salivary gland (99m)TcO(4)(-) uptake ratio for the ketamine-midazolam protocol was significantly higher at 40 minutes than for propofol or ketamine-midazolam-atropine protocols. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sedation and anesthesia have a significant effect on thyroid and salivary gland (99m)TcO(4) uptake in euthyroid cats that may interfere with thyroid scintigraphic image interpretation.     

Evaluation of a monoclonal antibody to the K99 fimbrial adhesin produced by Escherichia coli enterotoxigenic for calves, lambs and piglets

All the K99+ Escherichia coli grown at 37 degrees C stained strongly with a peroxidase labelled K99 monoclonal antibody using a direct immunoperoxidase staining procedure. There was no reaction when these bacteria were cultured at 18 degrees C or when K99- E coli were grown at either temperature. The binding of the monoclonal antibody to K99 antigen was inhibited by OK antisera to heterologous K99+ E coli but OK antisera to E coli producing adhesins other than K99 were without effect. Using the slide agglutination test the reactions of the monoclonal antibody were identical to those of a polyclonal antiserum to K99 when both were used in parallel to examine 100 K99+ E coli from at least 10 somatic O groups and 1308 K99+ E coli from at least 82 different somatic O groups submitted for routine serological typing in England or the, USA. The monoclonal antibody reacted with K99+ E coli in cryostat sections of the ileum from a piglet infected with E coli strain B44 (O9: K30, K99, F41) but there was no reaction with similar material from piglets infected by E coli strains 1751 (O101: F41), X177/81 (O9: K103, 987P) or Abbotstown (O149: K91, K88ac).     

Effect of sample number and time on determination of plasma clearance of technetium Tc 99m pentetate and orthoiodohippurate sodium I 131 in dogs and cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of number of blood samples and sampling times on plasma clearance of technetium Tc 99m pentetate (Tc99mP) and orthoiodohippurate sodium I 131(OIH). ANIMALS: 20 dogs and 14 cats. PROCEDURE: Plasma clearances of OIH and Tc99mP were calculated by use of a 2-compartment model, on the basis of a 12-point curve as a reference method. Plasma clearance was calculated by use of all possible combinations of 4 to 11 samples. Time schedule yielding the smallest difference from the reference method was considered to be optimal. Regression analysis was performed between the 12-point model and models using a reduced number of samples. RESULTS: SD of the difference between the 12-point clearance and the models with reduced numbers of samples increased when the number of samples decreased. The SD of the difference between 12-point clearance and 4-point clearance was 4.17 ml/min for OIH and 0.94 ml/min for Tc99mP in dogs and 0.45 ml/min for OIH and 0.11 ml/min for Tc99mP in cats. Optimal schedules were distributed logarithmically and included an early sample at 5 or 10 minutes, a late sample at 2.5, 3, 4, or 5 hours for OIH, and a late sample at 4 or 5 hours for Tc99mP. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Plasma clearances of OIH and Tc99mP can be accurately calculated in dogs and cats by use of a single-injection 2-compartment pharmacologic model with a reduced number of blood samples, resulting in an acceptable margin of error.     

EVALUATION OF SOLID PHASE RADIOLABELS OF DOG FOOD FOR GASTRIC EMPTYING

99mTc-Pertechnetate, 99mTc-mebrofenin, 99mTc-disofenin, 99mTc-sulfur colloid, and 99mTc-Dowex resin beads were evaluated for in vitro stability as a label for both dry extruded, and canned dog food for gastric emptying scintigraphy. A sample of each radiolabeled diet was added to water, gastric juice, intestinal juice, or gastric juice followed by intestinal juice for in vitro digestion. After a 3-hour digestion period, tubes were centrifuged and percentage solid phase retention (%SPR) was calculated. The experiment was repeated three times over a 14-day period to minimize day-to-day variation. For dry dog food, 99mTc-mebrofenin and 99mTc-disofenin had similar %SPR in water (96 and 93%, respectively) and gastric juice (>95% each) and were significantly higher than other labels. For canned dog food, mebrofenin had a 91% SPR for the water or gastric juice digestions, and 99mTc-Dowex had a %SPR of >99%. 99mTc-mebrofenin and 99mTc-Dowex were also tested in vivo, where 99mTc-Dowex had poor stability, and 99mTc-Mebrofenin had excellent stability. 99mTc-Mebrofenin is a suitable label for dog food for gastric emptying scintigraphy.     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒HN99株血清学和免疫学特性的研究

在鸡胚肾细胞上对HN₉₉株病毒进行了克隆纯化，经检测无外源病原污染。应用血清交叉中和试验确定了IBV HN₉₉株的血清型，并用免疫保护试验进行了验证，结果证明HN₉₉株与T株属同一血清型，与TJ、SD、湖北等地方分离株有一定的相关性。不同免疫剂量的效力试验结果表明用0.2 ml剂量的HN₉₉灭活苗接种试验鸡，能够对HN₉₉攻毒提供100%的保护，证明HN₉₉株具有良好的免疫原性。     

Evaluation of the use of technetium Tc 99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid and technetium Tc 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid for scintigraphic imaging of the kidneys in green iguanas (Iguana iguana)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of scintigraphy involving technetium Tc 99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid ((99m)Tc-DTPA) or technetium Tc 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid ((99m)Tc-DMSA) for the determination of kidney morphology and function in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). ANIMALS: 10 healthy iguanas weighing >1.6 kg. PROCEDURE: Renal scintigraphy was performed by use of (99m)Tc-DTPA in 6 of the iguanas and by use of (99m)Tc-DMSA in all 10 iguanas. After the injection of (99m)Tc-DMSA, scans were performed for each iguana at intervals during a 20-hour period. Renal biopsies were performed in all 10 iguanas after the final scintigraphic evaluation. RESULTS: In iguanas, the use of (99m)Tc-DTPA for renal scintigraphy was nondiagnostic because of serum protein binding and poor renal uptake of the isotope; mean +/- SD (99m)Tc-DTPA bound to serum proteins was 48.9 +/- 9.9%. Renal uptake of (99m)Tc-DMSA produced distinct visualization of both kidneys. Renal uptake and soft tissue clearance of (99m)Tc-DMSA increased over the 20-hour imaging period; mean +/- SD renal uptake of (99m)Tc-DMSA was 11.31 +/- 3.06% at 20 hours. In each of the 10 iguanas, ultrasonographic and histologic examinations of biopsy specimens from both kidneys revealed no abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that the kidneys of iguanas can be evaluated scintigraphically by use of (99m)Tc-DMSA; this technique may be potentially useful for the diagnosis of renal failure in iguanas.     

产肠毒素大肠杆菌双重PCR检测方法的建立

为了快速检测和鉴定产肠毒素大肠杆菌菌毛(K88和K99)基因,本研究设计合成了针对K88、K99的2对特异性引物,对扩增条件进行优化,建立了检测K88和K99的双重PCR方法。该方法对K88、K99基因的扩增产物大小分别为237和314 bp;最终确定dNTP终浓度0.4 mmol/L,K88、K99的引物终浓度均为25 μmol/L,退火温度为52℃。试验结果表明,该方法具有良好的灵敏性和特异性。用所建立的双重PCR方法对实验室分离的23株大肠杆菌进行检测,结果显示,K88单重PCR阳性2株,K99单重PCR阳性3株,K88和K99双重PCR阳性5株。本研究建立的双重PCR检测方法为致幼畜腹泻产肠毒素大肠杆菌的快速准确检测提供了方法。     

ELISA to determine anti-K99 pilus antibody in the sera of normal and diarrhoeic calves

An ELISA to detect circulating antibodies against K99 pili, a major attachment factor to intestinal epithelial cells of Escherichia coli in calves, was performed. Two methods of K99 pili purification were attempted. Best results in terms of purity of the K99 antigen were achieved following the method described by Karkhanis and Bhogal (1986). This procedure included a heat shock at 65°C during 25 min to release the pili and ultracentrifugation steps to purify the antigen. SDS-PAGE showed an 18 KDa major band, identified as the K99 pilus antigen after immunoblotting against reference antisera. The purified K99 antigen was then adsorbed to the ELISA microplates. High optical density was obtained in the ELISA using a pool of sera from immunized cows. No differences in antibody levels (P ≥ 0.05) could be detected between clinically healthy calves and those showing diarrhoea.     

产肠毒素性大肠杆菌K99菌毛蛋白抗原基因的克隆与表达

应用PCR从产肠毒素性大肠杆菌（ETEC）中扩增出不含信号肽序列的K99菌毛蛋白基因片段，克隆测序后，将该片段连接到E.coli表达载体pET28a( )中，转化E.coli表达菌株BL21（DE3），筛选得到可诱导表达K99抗原的工程菌株。经IPTG诱导，分离纯化K99重组蛋白，以其免疫新西兰大白兔，获得重组蛋白的兔抗血清；免疫印迹分析表明，此重组蛋白制备的抗血清能与标准的K99强毒株姓明显的抗原抗体反应。     

禽流感病毒KMI/99(H9N2)HA和NA基因的序列分析

研究分别以自行设计的一对简并引物和另一对普通引物，经RT－CR，一次性成功地扩增禽流感病毒A／Chicken/Guangxi/KMI/99(H9N2）HA全和基因cDNA和NA全长基因cDNA，并将它们克隆于pGEM-T Easy的T－T窗口，首次报道了该毒株的HA全基因和NA全基因核苷酸序列及推导的氨基酸序列，测序结果显示，该毒株的HA基因全长为1683bp，编码560个氨基酸。NA全长为1398bp，编码466个氨基酸残基。研究发现其HAI羧基端的分子特征是：R－S－S－R。从分子水平推论。A/Chicken/Guangxi/KMI/99(H9N2)属于非高致病力毒株。研究还发现NA蛋白于63－65位缺失了T、E、I三个氨基酸。     

Quantitative renal scintigraphic determination of the glomerular filtration rate in cats with normal and abnormal kidney function, using 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid.

The nuclear imaging technique known as quantitative renal scintigraphy was validated as a means to assess the kidney function of cats. Renal function tests were performed in 6 healthy cats and 3 cats with clinical manifestations of kidney failure. In addition, the nephrotoxic drugs, gentamicin sulfate, or amphotericin B were used in an attempt to induce renal failure in 4 cats. Using linear regression analysis, equations were derived to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) on the basis of the renal percent uptake of 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA). One-way ANOVA and Student's t test were used to evaluate treatment effects on clearances of inulin and creatinine, percent uptake of 99mTc-DTPA, and serum creatinine concentrations. The results show that the percent uptake of 99mTc-DTPA by the kidneys correlated well with the GFR obtained through the clearance of inulin. Thus, it was concluded that quantitative renal scintigraphy, using 99mTc-DTPA as a marker of kidney function, is an adequate technique to estimate the kidney function of healthy cats and cats with functional renal impairment. The best estimate of the GFR of cats, using the percentage dose of 99mTc-DTPA, was obtained on the 1- to 3-minute postinjection interval of the marker, using data that was background-subtracted, but not corrected for tissue absorption of gamma rays or binding of 99mTc-DTPA to plasma proteins. There was no significant difference in the mean inulin clearance, creatinine clearance, or percent uptake of 99mTc-DTPA between the 3 treatment groups of this study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Simplified methods for estimation of 99mTc-pentetate and 131I-orthoiodohippurate plasma clearance in dogs and cats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate simplified methods for estimation of Technetium Tc 99m (99mTc)-pentetate and orthoiodohippurate I 131 (131I-OIH) plasma clearance in dogs and cats with 1 and 2 blood samples. Plasma clearances were calculated after a bolus injection of 1.85-11.1 MBq of 99mTc-pentetate and 131I-OIH with a 2-compartment model based on a 12-point curve as a reference method in 21 dogs and 18 cats. Three 2-sample and 3 single-sample methods were investigated. The method yielding the smallest standard deviation of the difference between the reference method and the simplified method was selected as the optimal one. Linear regression analysis was performed between the reference method and the simplified method and coefficient of determination (R2) was calculated. For 99mTc-pentetate plasma clearance, the optimal 2-sample method was the one with a mono-compartment model with samples taken at specific times. For 131I-OIH plasma clearance, the estimation was improved slightly by raising the clearance calculated with a mono-compartment model to the power of an empirically determined parameter. The optimal single-sample method was the one with a linear quadratic regression between the volume of distribution of the tracer at a specific time and the clearance calculated with 12 samples. Two-sample methods performed significantly better than did single-sample methods. The conclusion is made that 99mTc-pentetate and 131I-OIH plasma clearances can be estimated in dogs and cats with 1 or 2 blood samples with a reasonable margin of error compared to plasma clearances calculated with a 2-compartment model and 12 blood samples.     

Determination of extrarenal plasma clearance and hepatic uptake of technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine maximum extrarenal plasma clearance of technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3) and maximum extrarenal hepatic uptake of 99mTc-MAG3 in cats. ANIMALS: 6 clinically normal adult cats. PROCEDURES: Simultaneously, baseline plasma clearance and camera-based uptake of 99mTc-MAG3 were determined in anesthetized cats. Double exponential curves were fitted to plasma clearance data. Injected dose was divided by area under the curve and body weight to determine 99mTc-MAG3 clearance. Regions of interest were drawn around kidneys and liver, and percentage dose uptake was determined 1 to 3 minutes after injection. After bilateral nephrectomy, simultaneous extrarenal plasma clearance and camera-based hepatic uptake of 99mTc-MAG3 were evaluated in each cat. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD baseline plasma clearance and extrarenal clearance were 5.29 +/- 0.77 and 0.84 +/- 0.47 mL/min/kg, respectively. Mean extrarenal clearance (as a percentage of baseline plasma clearance) was 16.06 +/- 7.64%. For right, left, and both kidneys, mean percentage dose uptake was 9.42 +/- 2.58, 9.37 +/- 0.86, and 18.79 +/- 2.47%, respectively. Mean hepatic percentage dose uptake before and after nephrectomy was 12.95 +/- 0.93 and 21.47 +/- 2.00%, respectively. Mean percentage change of hepatic uptake after nephrectomy was 166.89 +/- 23.19%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In cats, extrarenal clearance of 99mTc-MAG3 is higher than that of other species; therefore, 99mTc-MAG3 is not useful for estimation of renal function in felids. Evaluation of renal function in cats may be more accurate via camera-based versus plasma clearance-based methods because camera-based studies can discriminate specific organs.