Experimental model of calcium-containing renal stone formation in a rabbit

An experimental method of calcium-containing renal stone formation was devised using a rabbit on normal diet. The stone formation was induced unilaterally, massively, and rapidly in an extremely high incidence by temporary obstruction of the upper urinary tract, but not by permanent obstruction. The contralateral kidney was used as a control. The initial stone formation was not solid but muddy and seemed to occur through massive crystal aggregation, resulting in concretion within a few weeks. We strongly suspect that the mechanism of this stone formation is crystal aggregation induced by temporary obstruction of the kidney. This animal model should contribute to the investigation of the process of crystal aggregation which is considered to be the most important factor in idiopathic calcium stone formation in man.