Evaluation of Renal Function in Obstructed Ureter Model Using 99mTc-DMSA

Background/Aim: Urinary obstruction is a condition of impaired urinary drainage, which may result in progressive renal deterioration. This study applied Tc-99m-labeled dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc-99m-DMSA) renal scintigraphy to a rabbit model of right ureter obstruction and evaluated its utility in studying obstructive renal diseases. Materials and Methods: Complete unilateral ureter obstruction in rabbits was generated by complete ligation of the right ureter. Renal function was investigated during a 4-week post-obstruction period by obtaining planar images of Tc-99m-DMSA activity following ear vein injection. Renal blood perfusion was evaluated by non-invasive scintigraphy in conjunction with parallel histological and hematological examinations. Results: Renal perfusion was remarkably and rapidly reduced in the ureter-obstructed kidneys. During the experimental period, the size of left kidney appeared normal in the scintigraphic images, but the ureter-obstructed right kidney progressively became larger. Histopathological examination showed flattening and atrophy of tubules, enlargement of interstitial areas, accumulation of extracellular martices and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the obstreucted kidney. Conclusion: Tc-99m-DMSA scintigraphy is a sensitive, non-invasive method to assess renal function in unilateral kidney diseases.