The solubility of calcium oxalate in tissue culture media

The equilibrium parameters for calcium oxalate solubility in tissue culture media were investigated because of the current interest in oxalate toxicity. The calcium selective ion electrode methodology was evaluated and calcium concentrations from potentiometric calculations were verified by d-c argon plasma emission spectroscopy. The experimental K(sp)'s at 25 degrees C for Dulbecco's modified Eagle media and McCoys 5A media are equivalent to the literature K(sp) of 2.3 x 10(-9) for low ionic strength. The equilibrium concentration products, [Ca2+] [C2O2-(4)], are ten times higher than the K(sp)'s due to the high ionic strengths of tissue culture media. At 37 degrees C, addition of soluble oxalate at the 10(-3) to 10(-4) M level causes >50% precipitation of the oxalate resulting in equilibrium oxalate concentrations of less than 6 x 10(-5) M. This relatively inexpensive selective ion technique allows the determination of oxalate concentrations in equilibrium-saturated media which are substantially less than those calculated by the amount of soluble oxalate added to the media.