The superficial lymphatic vessels of mammary glands were studied in ten bitches using 5% sodium fluorescein and ultraviolet light. Fluorescein was injected intradermally around each nipple basis and each mammary gland was observed after 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes. In each animal, it was evaluated the cranial thoracic, cranial abdominal and inguinal mammary glands of the rigth and left chains, and after 48 hours the caudal thoracic and caudal abdominal mammary glands of the rigth and left chains. Fluorescein was not captured by the lymphatics in 8 of the 97 mammary glands injected. The best visualization of the trajectories was at 30 minutes after fluorescein injection. This is a simple, rapid and innocuous method for in vivo examination of the lymphatic vessels.
fluorescein; lymphatic; mammary glands; bitches
