ABSTRACT 

Aim : Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) are used to provide contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Previous studies have reported that repeated administrations of linear gadolinium- based contrast agents lead to their accumulation in the brain and other tissues depending on the GBKA structure. The purpose of this prospective animal study was to investigate the effect of multiple administrations of macrocyclic ionic (gadoteric acid) and linear nonionic (gadodiamide) gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) on rat brain tissue and to compare these molecules in terms of tissue damage. 

Material and Methods: Sprague-Dawley male rats were administered 0.1 mmol (0.2 ml/kg)/mg/kg gadodiamide and gadoteric acid 4 days per week for 5 weeks. He was then kept drug-free for 5 weeks. At the end of the tenth week, the rats were put to sleep under anesthesia and samples were taken from the brain tissue. Atypical neurons and oligodendocytes from brain tissue samples were scored and evaluated by two histopathologists under a light microscope. The data obtained were evaluated with the Kruskal-Wallis test and the comparisons between the groups were Tamhane T2. 

Results: Gray and white matter tissue in the brain tissue of the subjects belonging to the control and saline groups were normal histological. Brain tissue sections of the gadodiamide group had typical neurons and oligodendrocytes, and no pathology was observed. However, no pathological structure was observed except for a few atypical neurons. 

Conclusion: Gadolinium does not cause pathological findings in rat brain cells in long-term diagnostic intakes. These findings do not differ according to the chemical structure of the contrast agent (linear or macrocyclic).