Human endothelial cell culture as an evaluation system for the toxicity of intravascular contrast media.

Endothelial cells in primary cultures from human umbilical cord veins were incubated with various radiographic contrast media in increasing concentrations up to approximately 60 mgI/ml for 24 hours in order to study their toxicity. Cell death was recorded with the chromium-51 (51Cr)-release method and controlled by dye exclusion tests, Coulter counting, and protein determination. The hyperosmolar, ionic contrast medium, meglumine metrizoate, was far more toxic to the endothelium than the nonionic media, metrizamide and iohexol, which are far less hyperosmolar. The 51Cr-release test on endothelial cultures provides a simple and useful technique in the evaluation of various intravascular contrast media and their components.