Crystallization during volume reduction of solutions with a composition corresponding to that in the collecting duct: the influence of hydroxyapatite seed crystals and urinary macromolecules

Abstract

To examine the effect of hydroxyapatite (HAP) seed crystals and urinary macromolecules on the crystallization under conditions similar to those in the collecting duct, we evaporated 100 ml samples of salt solutions with an ion composition assumed to correspond to that in the collecting duct without and with HAP seed crystals. The crystallization in seeded solutions was assessed both with and without dialysed urine (dU). After evaporation the number and volume of crystals were recorded in a Coulter Multisizer and the crystal morphology examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray crystallography. Addition of HAP crystals was apparently followed by an approximately 15–20% increase in heterogeneous nucleation of calcium oxalate (CaOx). In these experiments SEM and X-ray crystallography showed a high percentage of CaOx in the precipitate. In samples reduced to 40–69 ml, addition of dU to the collecting duct solution containing HAP seed resulted in a greater mean (SD) number of crystals; 3895 (1841) in samples with dU and 1785 (583) in samples without. This was mainly explained by an increased mean (SD) number of small crystals. The mean crystal volume was 17.8 (1.1) and 34.3 (9.1) in samples reduced to 40–69 ml with and without dU, respectively. This might reflect the inhibitory effect of dU on the growth and/or aggregation of the CaOx-CaP precipitate or a promoted nucleation resulting in a large number of small crystals. It is concluded that calcium phosphate formed above the collecting duct might induce heterogeneous nucleation of CaOx at lower levels of the renal collecting system, and that urinary macromolecules are powerful modifiers of these processes.