Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Study of Phagolysosome Biogenesis in Live Macrophages
Published on: March 10, 2014
Effects of radiographic contrast media on leukocyte phagocytosis
R Farrow1, C A Roobottom, I P Wells
1Department of Radiodiagnosis, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, England.
Rationale And Objectives:
Differences in leukocyte phagocytosis following exposure to different classes of radiographic contrast media (RCM) may help in the development of less toxic alternatives and be useful as a guide to contrast selection in certain patient groups. The effect of RCM on leukocyte phagocytosis of Escherichia coli was examined.
Methods:
Cell population phagocytosis and individual cell phagocytic activity were assessed in a control group and in samples exposed both to the ionic RCM diatrizoate and ioxaglate and to the nonionic RCM iohexol and iotrolan by using a flow cytometer.
Results:
The percentage of granulocytes undergoing phagocytosis was 88.4% in the control population. Following exposure to RCM, this value fell to 79.2% with iohexol, 77.6% with iotrolan, 70.5% with diatrizoate, and 68.7% with ioxaglate. The number of bacteria phagocytosed by active leukocytes was not affected by RCM.
Conclusion:
RCM adversely affect the percentage of granulocytes involved in phagocytosis but not the number of pathogenic bacteria that are phagocytosed by individual granulocytes.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Disorders of Leukocytes
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune system...
01:30Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT