Metabolic action and cellular structure of the myocardium during coronary angiography.

Experimental perfusion of coronary arteries of guinea pig heart with contrast media causes various changes in electrolyte metabolism, depending on the chemical structures of the administered contrast media. These electrolyte changes are related to the tolerance of the myocardium to the contrast agents. Electron microscopic sections of human myocardium after coronary perfusion with Urografin-76 reveal that no alterations of subcellular structure occur.