To compare the effects of two contrast agents, Gd-DTPA and HSA-Gd-DTPA, in magnetic resonance (MR) lymphography.Twelve New-Zealand rabbits were randomized into Gd-DTPA and HSA-Gd-DTPA groups with subcutaneous (interdigital skin fold) injection of the two contrast agents (0.2 ml of 0.5 mmol/L Gd(3+)) for MR lymphography of the popliteal lymph nodes examined in the axial and sagital orientation. T(1)-weighted, T1-weighted fat suppressed, and T(2)-weighted spin-echo (SE) images of the lymph nodes were obtained in plain scans. The post-contrast scanning started at 30 min, 1 h and 3 h after Gd-DTPA administration and at 10 min, 30 min and 60 min after HSA-Gd-DTPA injection to obtain T(1)-weighted images with identical imaging parameters. The signal intensity of popliteal lymph node was measured and the enhancement rate calculated.After subcutaneous injection, Gd-DTPA quickly entered blood circulation to result in obvious enhancement of the anterior-tibial vein and the urine and also in heterogeneous enhancement of the popliteal lymph nodes. HSA-Gd-DTPA did not enter the blood, causing obvious homogeneous enhancement of the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. HSA-Gd-DTPA resulted in higher enhancement rate than Gd-DTPA, and the enhancement rate in Gd-DTPA group decreased with time as opposed to that of the HSA-Gd-DTPA group.HSA-Gd-DTPA has better performance than Gd-DTPA in MR lymphography after subcutaneous administration.