Possible role of hyaluronate in experimental renal stone formation in rabbits

We produced renal stones in rabbits by modifying Itatani's method, ligation of the right ureter followed by ureteroneocystostomy 1 week later. Renal stones formed in all animals within 2 weeks after ureteroneocystostomy. We measured the components of glycosaminoglycan in the stone matrix, renal tissue and urine by 2-dimensional electrophoresis. Glycosaminoglycan of the stone matrix consisted solely of hyaluronate. Glycosaminoglycan of the control normal urine consisted of only chondroitin sulfate, although hyaluronate was contained in urine in the hydronephrotic and stone forming period. Glycosaminoglycan of the control normal kidney consisted mainly of hyaluronate and chondroitin sulfate, while hyaluronate was the main component of glycosaminoglycan in the stone forming kidney. From these results, it is clear that hyaluronate is the most important component of glycosaminoglycan in the early stone forming period.