Histology and Gadolinium Distribution in the Rodent Brain After the Administration of Cumulative High Doses of Linear and Macrocyclic Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents

After repeated high dosing, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis-like macroscopic and histopathological lesions of the skin were observed only in some of the gadodiamide-treated animals. No histopathological findings were detected in the rodent brain. The administration of linear GBCAs was associated with significantly higher Gd concentrations in the brain and skin compared with macrocyclic GBCA administration. The results of LA-ICP-MS demonstrated local accumulation of Gd within the deep cerebellar nuclei and the granular layer only after the administration of linear agents. In summary, the detected low Gd concentrations in the skin and brain were well correlated with the higher kinetic stability of macrocyclic GBCA.