Aged rats are susceptible to nephrotoxicity induced by iodinated contrast media.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect and mechanism of aging on iodinated-contrast-media-induced nephropathy in male rats. Methods: Twenty-four healthy male rats were initially divided into 12-month-old and 24-month-old age groups (adult and older age groups, respectively; n = 12/group); subsequently, each age group was randomly divided into saline control (NS) and contrast media (CM) groups (n = 6/group). CM (76% diatrizoate, 10 mL/kg b.w.) was given through the caudal vein. Urinary creatinine (Ucr) and serum creatinine (Scr) were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The activities of renal malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II (Ang II), and reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase) were determined by spectrophotometric assays with commercially available kits according to the manufacturers’ protocols. Renal histological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eo...