Dynamic Effects of Ioversol on the Permeability of the Blood-Brain Barrier and the Expression of ZO-1/Occludin in Rats

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE), which is a rare adverse event following angiography. In this study, we observed the dynamic effect and potential mechanism of ioversol on the BBB in rats. Eighty-one healthy rats were randomly divided into a normal control group ( n = 9), ioversol group ( n = 36), and 0.9% NaCl group ( n = 36); the latter two groups were separately subdivided into four groups based on time points after treatment (0.5, 3, 6, and 24 h) ( n = 9/group). Permeability of the BBB was measured by an Evans Blue (EB) assay. Levels of the tight junction (TJ) proteins ZO-1 and occludin were determined by western blot and immunofluorescence staining. EB content increased at 3 h after the administration of ioversol via the carotid artery and reached a peak at 6 h ( P