Effects of iodinated x-ray contrast media on renal epithelial cells in culture.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To study cellular mechanisms that cause contrast media nephropathy, an in vitro system for proximal and distal tubular cells has been established to evaluate the influence of x-ray contrast media on tubular function.

METHODS

Confluent cell cultures of the two renal cell lines, proximal tubule (LLC-PK1) and distal tubule (MDCK), were exposed for 20 hours to 0 to 100 mg iodine/mL of the ionic monomer metrizoate, the ionic dimer ioxaglate, and the non-ionic monomer iohexol. Toxicity was assessed by electron microscopy, cell viability, and biochemical assays of brush-border and lysosomal marker enzymes.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated a concentration-dependent toxic effect from the contrast media on cellular appearance consisting of an increased vacuolization and on the activity of brush-border and lysosomal marker enzymes in cells and in culture media.

CONCLUSION

The results, in which the nonionic x-ray contrast media iohexol appeared to be less toxic than the ionic x-ray contrast media investigated, demonstrated that defined renal cells in culture are valuable tools in studies regarding renal toxicity of x-ray contrast media.