The feasibility of a renogram study in dogs with radiopharmaceutical 99mTc-DTPA

The present study is one of in vivo 99mTc-DTPA renography, successively involving conscious healthy dogs under acepromazine maleate sedation and dogs under the narcotic sodium thiopental. It was found that during the running of the renogram the animal had to be kept completely immobile and that constant infusion narcosis with sodium thiopental produced this immobility without affecting the renograms unduly. However administration of a thiopental bolus did have an adverse effect on the renogram. Sedation with acepromazine maleate significantly increased the time to peak and the excretion phase as presented by the slope. These effects are thought to be due to a decreased blood pressure with concomitant renal bloodpooling and retarded bloodflow. The radioisotope renogram appears to hold great promise for both clinical and research applications. The equipment required for this application however, is so costly that it would only be financially feasible for major centres.