The objectives of this study were first to develop a reproducible and reversible model of acute renal failure following contrast medium infusion in the rat; second to use that method to compare the nephrotoxicity of low- and high-osmolar contrast agents. Contrast media or saline were perfused in the aorta while a clamp was applied on the aorta just above the renal artery. Three minutes of renal ischemia with or without infusion of isotonic saline induced no change in serum creatinine and a slight and transient decrease in creatinine clearance at 24 h. Urinary N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAG) excretion was not modified in this control group. All 17 kidneys which were examined were normal. 2,100 mosm/kg hypertonic saline induced a significant increase in serum creatinine and a significant decrease in creatinine clearance (from 1.8 +/- 0.1 to 0.8 +/- 0.1 and 1.0 +/- 0.2 ml/min at 24 and 48 h, respectively). Urinary NAG excretion increased from 23 +/- 18 to 48 +/- 20 and 8 +/- 4 mumol h-1/mmol creatinine at 24 and 48 h, respectively (p less than 0.05). Histologic analysis of 5 kidneys revealed acute tubular necrosis (n = 3) and no histologic abnormalities (n = 2). Diatrizoate induced an acute and reversible renal failure. Creatinine clearance decreased from 1.6 +/- 0.1 to 0.4 +/- 0.1 and 0.8 +/- 0.1 ml/min at 24 and 48 h, respectively (p less than 0.01). Urinary NAG excretion increased also significantly from 43 +/- 9 to 352 +/- 79 and 64 +/- 23 mumol h-1/mmol creatinine at 24 and 48 h, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)