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.