Effects of contrast media on the stria vascularis

The effects of contrast media on the stria vascularis were electron microscopically studied in mice after intravenous injection of amidotrizoate, iopamidol or ioxaglic acid at 10 or 20 ml/kg body weight. In furosemide-load groups, contrast media were injected via the tail vein at 10 ml/kg with preadministration of furosemide at 20 mg/kg body weight. In both groups, the stria vascularis was prepared for study 10 min after the injection of contrast media. No morphological changes could be found after administration of 10 ml/kg injection of any of the three contrast media. However, administration of 20 ml/kg of amidotrizoate caused a high degree of intercellular dilatation between marginal and intermediate cells. Iopamidol caused a slight degree of dilatation, and ioxaglic acid caused no change. In the furosemide-load groups, amidotrizoate induced severer effects than iopamidol while ioxaglic acid induced no effect. From these results it was concluded that contrast media affect the stria vascularis parallel with osmolality, although some ionic effect of amidotrizoate should be considered when it is used in combination with furosemide.