The effect of contrast media on the aortic endothelium of rats.

The effect of diatrizoate, ioxitalamate, metrizamide, and ioxaglate on the aortic endothelium of the rat was investigated using transmission electron microscopy and DNA synthesis autoradiography. One milliliter of each contrast medium, containing 300 mg iodine per ml, was injected into the aorta. The types of lesions seen on electron microscopy and the rate of DNA synthesis seen on autoradiography established the degree of endothelial damage that had been produced. Of the four contrast agents tested, ioxaglate produced the least amount of cellular change.