The distribution and elimination of 99Tcm-complexes with methylene-diphosphonate (MDP) and with the calcium salt of diethylene-triamine-penta(methylene phosphonate) (DTPMP) were compared in rats. Both compounds exhibited high bone uptake and long-term retention of radioactivity in the skeleton. No significant accumulation of the complexes in non-osseous tissues was found. The pharmacokinetics of both chelates were similar, small differences in their distribution and elimination probably being due to different binding to plasma proteins. Two processes, namely bone uptake and kidney elimination, contributed to the disappearance of the complexes from the blood. The higher protein binding of 99Tcm-MDP probably caused its slower rate of urine elimination and insignificantly higher bone uptake compared with 99Tcm-DTPMP. On the other hand, the more rapid reduction in blood and muscle radioactivity with 99Tcm-DTPMP resulted in accelerated non-osseous tissue clearance compared with 99Tcm-MDP. This suggests that the time between administration and imaging may be shorter for 99Tcm-DTPMP than for 99Tcm-MDP. Furthermore, the much greater stability of 99Tcm-DTPMP may also reduce degradation of the complex and 99Tcm liberation in the body. For a general evaluation of both compounds, it will be necessary to determine lesion-to-bone ratios.