Abstract:

Objective To compare the renal pathological changes and functional impairments of rats of the calcium oxalate calculus model established by the ethylene glycol (EG) method and ammonium oxalate (AmOx) method and to explore the selection and application of two calcium oxalate calculus models. Methods A total of 36 SPF level healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, EG group, and AmOx group (n=12). Each rat of the EG group was intragastrically administered 2% ammonium chloride(AC) of 2 mL per day and was administered 1% EG for free drink. Rats of the AmOx group were fed by forage with 5% AmOx. After models were established, levels of serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, 24 h urinary oxalate were detected. The paraffin kidney sections were observed under the microscope for calcium oxalate deposit and pathological changes. Results The levels of urinary oxalate, calcium, and phosphorus of the EG group and AmOx group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Effects of both calcium oxalate calculus models established by two methods were remarkable and stable, whereas renal pathological changes and functional impairments of rats were significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusion Compared to the model established by EG method, the model established by AmOx method can cause severer renal pathological changes and functional impairment of rats and is more suitable for studying renal functional impairment due to nephrolithiasis.

Key words: calcium oxalate, renal calculus, animal model, rat