Aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals: effect of urine and various inhibitors

The influence of various factors on aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals in vitro was determined. Aggregation was assessed by filtering the crystal suspension and measuring the flow rate through a filter. 10% urine completely inhibited aggregation. Orthophosphate and magnesium at concentrations occuring in urine had no effect. Citrate had no effect at 10(-4) M ,but did inhibit at 10(-3) M. The latter effect is probably due to calcium binding. Pyrophosphate and disodium dichioromethylene diphosphonate (C12MDP) inhibited strongly at 10(-4) M, disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) at 10(-5) M, whereas pentanemonophosphonate had no effect. Uromucoid also did not show any inhibitory activity. Studies by means of heat inactivation, ultrafiltration and fractionation on DEAE-cellulose and gel-filtration indicated that the inhibitory activity was heterogenous and that the major part was larger than 10 000 daltons.