The effects of diagnostic x-ray and contrast media on lymphocyte chromosomes.

On the present in vitro study with or without x-ray exposure, employing the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis as well as the conventional chromosome investigation, we studied the effects of six contrast media, normally used in daily radiodiagnostic procedures, on the peripheral lymphocyte chromosomes. The conventional chromosome analysis demonstrated that the frequency of chromosome-type aberrations such as dicentric and ring chromosomes was not elevated solely by the addition of contrast media at cultivation. The diagnostic x-ray combined with the presence of each contrast medium demonstrated a slight increase in SCE frequency compared to that of the controls. However, we could not identify any specific medium among these contrast media that was conspicuously toxic or clastogenic to chromosomes.