Urinary tract calculi in man and laboratory animals: incidence, composition, and etiology

Calculi in the urinary tract is a disease which afflicts not only man, but also experimental animals. The incidence of human stone disease varies widely according to the geographical area. With the advent of sophisticated physicochemical techniques, the elucidation of structure and the quantification of mineral components of urinary calculi have been greatly facilitated. In addition to calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, more than ten other minerals and a large number of trace elements have been identified to date. Matrix material consists of such macro-molecules as proteins and mucopolysaccharides. The etiology of urinary calculi is varied; diet, drugs, chemicals, bladder implants, infections, metabolic derangements, and environmental influences are some of the factors that can contribute to the pathogenesis of stones. The literature findings reflect the complexity of urolithiasis as a clinicopathological problem.