VARIABLE EFFECTS OF IODINATED CONTRAST-MEDIA ON DIFFERENT RABBIT ARTERIES IN-VITRO

Vasoconstriction caused by iodinated contrast media (CM) has been cons idered specific for the renal ar artery only. We examined the vascular effect of CM in rabbit carotid, aorta, renal, iliac, mesenteric and c eliac arteries and found that other arteries also respond with a contr action to CM. Isolated arterial rings were exposed to diatrizoate (hig h osmolar CM), iohexol (low osmolar CM) or glucose solution, and the i sometric contraction response was expressed as percentage of an initia l KCl control contraction. Diatrizoate evoked contractions of 82% (car otid), 63% (aorta), 30% (renal), 24% (iliac), 28% (mesenteric) and 18% (celiac), respectively. Iohexol caused contractions of 31% (carotid), 24% (aorta), 15% (renal) and 14% (iliac), whereas the mesenteric and celiac arteries were relaxed by iohexol. A high osmolar glucose soluti on elicited contractions of 78%, 77%, 11%, 27%, 3% and 5%, respectivel y, in the arteries. CM have contraction potency in arterial vasculatur e other than the renal artery.