Local and systemic effects of water-soluble contrast media and barium in rats with chronic small bowel obstruction.
OBJECTIVE
The local effects on the small intestine and systemic changes produced by different contrast media in small bowel obstruction, with time courses of 4 days, were evaluated.


METHODS
Four groups, each with 10 normal rats and another four groups (also each with 10 rats) that had ligation of the terminal ileum (obstructed rats) for 4 days were given 3 mL of barium, meglumine sodium diatrizoate, iohexol, or saline (control animals). Radiographs were taken immediately, 1 and 4 hours after administration of contrast media. Immediately before sacrifice, blood samples were taken to determine the hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), and serum sodium, and potassium and chloride concentrations. Specimens of small bowel were taken for histologic and morphometric analysis.


RESULTS
In obstructed rats, the image quality with iohexol improved on final radiographs despite being diluted in the great intestinal contents. There was an improvement in the serum electrolyte concentrations in the obstructed animals that were given any one of the contrast media, the best improvement being in the iohexol groups. A shortening of the length of epithelial cells when any one of the contrast media was administered was observed, as was an increase in the lymphatic space area in the diatrizoate group in normal rats. In the bowel proximal to the obstruction, the lymphatic space area was increased in the diatrizoate group and the size of the epithelial cells was higher in the diatrizoate and iohexol groups compared to the barium and saline groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that iohexol offers good radiologic efficacy and excellent systemic and local tolerance in small bowel obstruction.
Murciano
J
J
Departamento de Patología Animal (Medicina, Cirugía Clínica y Radiología). Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Spain.
Agut
A
A
Sańchez-Valverde
M A
MA
Laredo
F G
FG
Tovar
M C
MC
D000818:Animals; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D007472:Iohexol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
D002712:Chlorides; D003287:Contrast Media; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014867:Water; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D007472:Iohexol; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium