Agglomeration of calcium oxalate monohydrate in synthetic urine.
The development of agglomerated particles of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) on the semi-batch precipitation from a synthetic urine carried out at physiological conditions (37 degrees C, pH = 5.5) was studied by optical and electron scanning microscopy. COM agglomerates develop by primary and secondary agglomeration proceeding simultaneously; the latter mechanism is, however, less important than the former. Citrate ions modify slightly the COM crystal shape and inhibit primary agglomeration. Mucin particles serve as a substrate for preferential formation (nucleation) of new COM crystals. The structure of formed agglomerates closely resembles that of a certain type of COM renal calculi. A combination of primary agglomeration of crystals forming stones and nucleation of new crystals on a mucoprotein layer partially covering their surface constitutes the possible mechanism of such stone development. Experimental data support this mechanism.
Grases
F
F
Department of Chemistry, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Masárová
L
L
Söhnel
O
O
Costa-Bauzá
A
A
D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000652:urine*; D003460:Crystallization; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000737:chemistry; D014556:Urine
D002129:Calcium Oxalate