Search

Objective: This study aims to compare the cytotoxicity and adhesion of subm icron calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) and dehydrate (COD) crystals toward African green monkey renal epithelial cells (Vero) to reveal the mechanism of kidney stone formation at cellular level. Methods: The injury effect of COM and COD crystals in Vero was investigated by detecting the change of cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content and hyaluronan (HA) expression amount. The adhesion of crystals on cell surface was observed using scanning electron microscope; and the crystal adhesion amount was measured using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer. Results: The cellular injury induced by crystals was in a dose-dependent manner in the concentration range of 100~400μg/mL; COM caused more serious injury than COD, the adhesion amount of COM on Vero was significantly greater than COD. Conclusions: The damage of submicron COM is larger than submicron COD, the adhered COM crystals are more easily aggregated. The results in this paper indicated that the presence of high concentration of COM crystals in urine is more likely to increase the risk of stone formation than COD crystals.