Nitric oxide protects against contrast media-increased pulmonary vascular permeability in rats.
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Nitric oxide (NO) regulation of endothelial function is involved in the development of acute lung injury. The role of NO in contrast media-induced increases in pulmonary vascular permeability was investigated in a rat model. METHODS: Nonionic (iohexol) and ionic (ioxaglate) contrast media were intravenously injected at 1.5 mL/min in rats. Pulmonary vascular permeability was evaluated by measuring the amount of Evans blue dye uptake as a quantitative marker of albumin extravasation in lung tissue. RESULTS: Intravenous injections of contrast media at doses of 4 and 6 g I/kg induced a dose-dependent increase in pulmonary vascular permeability. L-Arginine (an NO synthase substrate) and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) (an NO synthase inhibitor) prevented and aggravated, respectively, the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability induced by the contrast medium. An aggravating action of L-NNA was confirmed by morphological and histological observations, this action being blocked by L-arginine (300 mg/kg) but not by D-arginine. Isosorbide dinitrate (1-20 mg/kg), an NO donor, had a dose-dependent protective effect on ioxaglate-increased vascular permeability. CONCLUSIONS: Our experimental findings suggest that contrast media at high doses produce pulmonary edema by inhibiting endothelial NO production, and nitrovasodilators protect against this adverse effect in rats.