Effect of disk maturation on diffusion of low-molecular-weight gadolinium complexes: an experimental study in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the rate of enhancement in immature intervertebral disks in comparison with that of mature disks after intravenous administration of gadolinium-containing contrast media.


METHODS
Four rabbits were imaged with MR for 120 minutes after the injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine, gadoteridol, or gadodiamide. Contrast enhancement was measured in the lumbar intervertebral disks on each image. The rate and magnitude of enhancement in the immature and mature disks were compared.


RESULTS
Contrast enhancement was detected in intervertebral disks with all three contrast media. Enhancement was significantly greater in immature than in mature animals.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater enhancement in immature disks is consistent with a lower concentration of fixed negative charges in the glycosaminoglycans of the disk.
Ibrahim
M A
MA
Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
Haughton
V M
VM
Hyde
J S
JS
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004058:Diffusion; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008536:Meglumine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011817:Rabbits
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C020341:glucosaminoglycans; C062402:gadoteridol; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; C064925:gadodiamide; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA