CONDITIONED TASTE-AVERSION IN RATS FOLLOWING INTRATHECAL ADMINISTRATION OF CONTRAST-MEDIA

Purpose: The occurrence of side-effects such as visceral malaise after intrathecal administration of the non-ionic radiography contrast medi a iomeprol, iopamidol, and iotrolan was assessed in rats by the condit ioned taste aversion procedure. Methods: Reduced preference towards a saccharose solution compared with normal water following intraventricu lar administration of a contrast medium was used as a measure of the a versive response. Results: At a dose of 100 mg I/kg none of the tested contrast media induced aversion. At 200 and 300 mg I/kg, both iopamid ol and iomeprol induced significant aversive responses with respect to control, although the response of the iomeprol group appeared milder than that of the iopamidol group at a dose of 200 mg I/kg. Iotrolan co uld be tested only at the lowest dose since the high doses caused exce ssive mortality. Conclusion: Intrathecally administered iomeprol appea red to be well tolerated in rats at doses higher than those suggested for clinical use.