Biomaterial Database

Effect of urinary macromolecules and chondroitin sulphate on calcium oxalate crystallization in urine. 1994

A L Rodgers, and D Ball, and W Harper

Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

After filtration and ultrafiltration (10 kD) of 24 hour urine specimens from 12 healthy male subjects, calcium oxalate crystallization was induced in the filtered (FILTD) and ultrafiltered (UF) fractions by administration of a sodium oxalate load. In addition crystallization was also induced in UF fractions to which physiological quantities of chondroitin sulphate (CHON) had been added (UF+CHON). The rate of calcium oxalate crystallization was determined by measuring the rate at which turbidity increased. Crystal numbers and sizes were measured with a Malvern particle size analyzer and by scanning electron microscopy. Crystallization rates, crystal numbers and crystal sizes were generally lower in UF fractions than in FILTD fractions suggesting that urinary macromolecules are promoters of calcium oxalate crystallization. No increase in crystallization rate, crystal numbers or sizes occurred when chondroitin sulphate was added to UF fractions, indicating that the promoter activity of urinary macromolecules is not due to this particular glycosaminoglycan. On the contrary, crystallization rates were qualitatively lower in UF+CHON fractions than in UF fractions alone, suggesting a possible inhibitory role for chondroitin sulphate in real urine. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that while aggregates were present in UF and FILTD fractions, they were absent in UF+CHON fractions. This observation indicates that chondroitin sulphate might be an inhibitor of calcium oxalate crystal aggregation in real urine.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008855	Microscopy, Electron, Scanning	Microscopy in which the object is examined directly by an electron beam scanning the specimen point-by-point. The image is constructed by detecting the products of specimen interactions that are projected above the plane of the sample, such as backscattered electrons. Although SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY also scans the specimen point by point with the electron beam, the image is constructed by detecting the electrons, or their interaction products that are transmitted through the sample plane, so that is a form of TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY.	Scanning Electron Microscopy,Electron Scanning Microscopy,Electron Microscopies, Scanning,Electron Microscopy, Scanning,Electron Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Electron Scanning,Microscopies, Scanning Electron,Microscopy, Electron Scanning,Microscopy, Scanning Electron,Scanning Electron Microscopies,Scanning Microscopies, Electron,Scanning Microscopy, Electron
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009391	Nephelometry and Turbidimetry	Chemical analysis based on the phenomenon whereby light, passing through a medium with dispersed particles of a different refractive index from that of the medium, is attenuated in intensity by scattering. In turbidimetry, the intensity of light transmitted through the medium, the unscattered light, is measured. In nephelometry, the intensity of the scattered light is measured, usually, but not necessarily, at right angles to the incident light beam.	Turbidimetry,Nephelometry,Turbidimetry and Nephelometry
D011232	Chemical Precipitation	The formation of a solid in a solution as a result of a chemical reaction or the aggregation of soluble substances into complexes large enough to fall out of solution.	Precipitation, Chemical
D002129	Calcium Oxalate	The calcium salt of oxalic acid, occurring in the urine as crystals and in certain calculi.	Calcium Oxalate (1:1),Calcium Oxalate Dihydrate,Calcium Oxalate Dihydrate (1:1),Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate,Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate (1:1),Calcium Oxalate Trihydrate,Dihydrate, Calcium Oxalate,Monohydrate, Calcium Oxalate,Oxalate, Calcium,Trihydrate, Calcium Oxalate
D002809	Chondroitin Sulfates	Derivatives of chondroitin which have a sulfate moiety esterified to the galactosamine moiety of chondroitin. Chondroitin sulfate A, or chondroitin 4-sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate C, or chondroitin 6-sulfate, have the sulfate esterified in the 4- and 6-positions, respectively. Chondroitin sulfate B (beta heparin; DERMATAN SULFATE) is a misnomer and this compound is not a true chondroitin sulfate.	Chondroitin 4-Sulfate,Chondroitin 6-Sulfate,Chondroitin Sulfate A,Chondroitin Sulfate C,Blutal,Chondroitin 4-Sulfate, Aluminum Salt,Chondroitin 4-Sulfate, Potassium Salt,Chondroitin 6-Sulfate, Potassium Salt,Chondroitin 6-Sulfate, Sodium Salt,Chondroitin Sulfate,Chondroitin Sulfate 4-Sulfate, Sodium Salt,Chondroitin Sulfate, Calcium Salt,Chondroitin Sulfate, Iron (+3) Salt,Chondroitin Sulfate, Iron Salt,Chondroitin Sulfate, Potassium Salt,Chondroitin Sulfate, Sodium Salt,Chondroitin Sulfate, Zinc Salt,Chonsurid,Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate,Translagen,Chondroitin 4 Sulfate,Chondroitin 4 Sulfate, Aluminum Salt,Chondroitin 4 Sulfate, Potassium Salt,Chondroitin 6 Sulfate,Chondroitin 6 Sulfate, Potassium Salt,Chondroitin 6 Sulfate, Sodium Salt,Chondroitin Sulfate 4 Sulfate, Sodium Salt,Chondroitin Sulfate, Sodium,Sulfate, Chondroitin,Sulfate, Sodium Chondroitin,Sulfates, Chondroitin
D003460	Crystallization	The formation of crystalline substances from solutions or melts. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Crystalline Polymorphs,Polymorphism, Crystallization,Crystal Growth,Polymorphic Crystals,Crystal, Polymorphic,Crystalline Polymorph,Crystallization Polymorphism,Crystallization Polymorphisms,Crystals, Polymorphic,Growth, Crystal,Polymorph, Crystalline,Polymorphic Crystal,Polymorphisms, Crystallization,Polymorphs, Crystalline
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults