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Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
Published on: February 9, 2021
Novel porcine model for calcium oxalate stone formation
Brandon P Trojan1, Sara J Trojan2, Andrew Navetta1
1Department of Urology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Stop 7260, Lubbock, TX, 79430-7260, USA.
Background:
Mechanisms for calcium-based stone formation are not clearly delineated. Porcine are the most anatomically and physiologically congruent mammal to humans. Our objectives were to develop a cost-effective and easily reproducible porcine model for the study of calcium-based nephrolithiasis.
Methods:
Crossbred male pigs (n = 16) were assigned randomly to one of the following treatments: (1) control; (2) ethylene glycol (EG) + vitamin D (VD); (3) EG + ammonium chloride (AC); (4) EG + gentamicin (G); (5) EG + Lasix; (6) EG + VD + AC; (7) EG + VD + G. Treatments were administered for 28 days; blood and urine were collected on day 0, 14, and 28. At the endpoint of the study, renal tissue was collected for gross and microscopic analysis of crystal stone formation and inflammation.
Results:
Stone-forming parameters were observed in serum and urine. For control versus all other treatments, by day 28, serum BUN and creatinine were less (P < 0.01), urinary creatinine, citrate and pH were greater (P < 0.01), and urinary oxalate was less (P < 0.01). Histopathological analysis of H&E staining and stone analysis revealed formation of calcium oxalate stones and crystal formation within the renal cortex and medulla for all animals except control. Nephrotoxicity was observed in one animal from treatment EG + G.
Conclusions:
The treatments explored in this experiment provided novel examples of cost-effective porcine models for the study of nephrolithiasis. EG + VD had the strongest indicators of nephrolithiasis without nephrotoxicity.
