J Korean Med Sci.  2005 Oct;20(5):841-847. 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.5.841.

Comparison of Renal Damage by Iodinated Contrast or Gadolinium in an Acute Renal Failure Rat Model Based on Serum Creatinine Levels and Apoptosis Degree

• Kwak HS
• Lee YH
• Han YM
• Jin GY
• Kim W
• Chung GH

• KMID: 1781769
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2005.20.5.841

Abstract

This study was undertaken to compare renal damage, as determined by serum creatinine and degree of apoptosis, caused by iodinated contrast or gadolinium in an acute renal failure (ARF) rat model. Rats were divided into three groups; controls (n=3), a CT contrast medium group (n=9), and an MR contrast medium group (n=9). The CT and MR groups were further subdivided into three groups, namely, low, standard, and high dose subgroups. Renal function was evaluated by determining serum creatinine levels; before ARF, and 48 hr after ARF and contrast administration. Apoptosis was assayed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). No significant creatinine level differences were observed between the CT and MR groups (p=0.116). Degrees of apoptosis in the renal cortex and medulla were more severe in the CT contrast medium group than in the control or MR contrast medium group (p<0.05). The study shows that CT contrast medium did not aggravate renal function more so than MR contrast medium in this ARF rat model. However, apoptosis examination in the renal cortex and medulla indicated that CT contrast medium induced more severe apoptosis than MR contrast medium (p<0.05). We conclude that CT contrast medium can be used for renal imaging studies when subjects are well hydrated and preventive medication is administered.

Keyword

Renal Function; Contrast Media; Kidney Failure, Acute; Animal Experimentation, Apoptosis; Iodopyridones; Gadolinium

MeSH Terms

Animals
Apoptosis/*drug effects
Contrast Media/adverse effects
Creatine/*blood
Female
Gadolinium DTPA/*adverse effects
Iohexol/adverse effects/*analogs and derivatives
Kidney/*drug effects/*pathology
Kidney Failure, Acute/*blood/pathology/radiography
Male
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Graph showing no significant difference in the creatinine levels of the CT and MR groups (p=0.116). In addition, no significant differences were found on changing CT or MR contrast medium dosages. CM, Contrast medium; ARF, Acute renal failure.

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  Fig. 2 Effect of CT contrast medium on the renal cortex and medulla. The red cells are TUNEL positive. Apoptotic degree in the renal medulla was more severe than that in the renal cortex. CT contrast medium increased the severity of apoptosis in a high dose. CT contrast medium induced more apoptosis in the renal cortex and medulla than MR contrast medium. (A) Cortex-control, (B) Cortex-low dose, (C) Cortex-standard dose, (D) Cortex-high dose, (E) Medulla-control, (F) Medulla-low dose, (G) Medulla-standard dose, (H) Medulla-high dose. Original magnification ×100 (Bar; 50 µm). C, Control; L, Low dose; S, Standard dose; H, High dose.

• 

  Fig. 3 Effect of MR contrast medium on the renal cortex and medulla. The red cells shown are TUNEL-positive. The degree of apoptosis observed in the renal medulla was more severe than in the renal cortex. MR contrast medium increased the severity of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. (A) Cortex-control, (B) Cortex-low dose, (C) Cortex-standard dose, (D) Cortex-high dose, (E) Medulla-control, (F) Medullalow dose, (G) Medulla-standard dose, (H) Medulla-high dose. Original magnification ×100 (Bar, 50 µm). C, Control; L, Low dose; S, Standard dose; H, High dose.

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  Fig. 4 Quantitative analysis of apoptotic cells per microscopic field in the renal cortex and medulla. The apoptotic effects of CT and MR contrast media were significant different (p<0.05).

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