Iodine-containing radiographic contrast media in rat bladder mucosa during excretory urography. A possible cause of exfoliation of abnormal epithelial cells.

Iodine in rat urine and urinary bladder mucosa during excretory urography was determined by chemical methods, including histochemistry, autoradiography and x-ray microanalysis. The amount of mucosal iodine varied in parallel with iodine concentration in the urine and was totally cleared after five hours. The findings indicate that iodine damage seen in urothelial umbrella cells probably represents an acute reaction rather than mucosal iodine retention.