Vascular response to gadolinium-containing contrast media in an ex vivo rabbit arterial model.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of gadolinium-containing magnetic resonance contrast agents on contractility of the arterial vessel wall.


METHODS
Bilateral segments of rabbit carotid arteries were mounted in flow chambers, surrounded by aerated (95% O2, 5% CO2) Krebs' solution, and perfused at a constant rate by separated and aerated Krebs' solution. Therefore, changes in pressure of the circulating Krebs' solution indicated alterations of vessel wall contractility. Viability of the artery was tested by 124 mmol/L KCl, 3 x 10-5 mol/L phenylephrine, and 10-5 mol/L acetylcholine. After a washout phase, gadopentate (n = 10) or gadoteridol (n = 10) was added to the perfusate of one carotid artery in increments of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.6 mmol/L. Concentrations up to 0.9 mmol/L and 1.2 mmol/L were tested, respectively. The contralateral artery served as a control. To assess potential relaxing effects of the media, vessels were brought into a contracted status with 3 x 10-5 mol/L phenylephrine and then received gadolinium chelates.


RESULTS
Potassium chloride and phenylephrine increased and acetylcholine decreased the pressure, indicating vasoconstriction and vasodilatation, respectively. After gadopentate and gadoteridol infusion, no statistically significant pressure changes could be detected, ruling out any vasoconstrictor or vasodilator effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Gadopentetate and gadoteridol in doses of up to 1.2 mmol/L did not alter vessel wall tone. The impact of contrast media on blood pressure, as has been shown in some clinical trials, probably is not due to direct changes in arterial wall tone.
Rauch
D
D
Department of Radiology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. rauch@mrs1.ukl.uni-freiburg
Bohnemann
L
L
Kurtz
C
C
Drescher
P
P
Kleb
B
B
Klose
K J
KJ
Wagner
H J
HJ
D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects
D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C062402:gadoteridol; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA