Lymphatic transport from normal and synovitic knees in rabbits.

The resorption pattern of synovial fluid through the lymphatic system from normal and synovitic knee joints in rabbits was studied with 99mtechnetium-rhenium-sulfur colloid injected intraarticularly and monitored for 14 hours with a gamma camera. On the normal side the regional lymph nodes were visualized after 1 hour and after 14 hours still 75 percent activity remained in the knee. In the synovitic knees no lymphatic transport could be detected; and the radiotracer was unstable with rapid liberation of technetium, which was excreted in the urine. This radiolysis was not found in vitro in synovitic joint fluid. The lymphatic transport from normal rabbit knees is low. We found a clear difference in lymphatic transport between normal and synovitic knee joints.