Changes in tissue gadolinium biodistribution measured in an animal model exposed to four chelating agents.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study investigated the potential to reduce gadolinium levels in rodents after repetitive IV Gadodiamide administration using several chelating agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The following six groups of rats were studied. Group 1 Control; Group 2 Gadodiamide only; Group 3 Meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) + Gadodiamide; Group 4 N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) + Gadodiamide; Group 5 Coriandrum sativum extract + Gadodiamide; and Group 6 Deferoxamine + Gadodiamide. Brain, kidney, and blood samples were evaluated via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The brain was also evaluated histologically. RESULTS: Kidney gadolinium levels in Groups 4 and 5 were approximately double that of Group 2 (p = 0.033 for each). There was almost no calcification in rat hippocampus for Group 4 rodents when compared with Groups 2, 3, 5 and 6. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study shows that excretion to the kidney has a higher propensity in NAC and Coriandrum sativum groups. It may be possible to change the distribution of gadolinium by administrating several agents. NAC may lower Gadodiamide-induced mineralization in rat hippocampus.