Abstract
In vitro experiments have indicated that the crystallization of magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium phosphate (carbonate apatite) is influenced by as yet unidentified components of human urine (2). This study was performed to investigate the influence of two urinary components, citrate and zinc, of potential interest in this context. The urinary citrate concentration is known to vary markedly between individuals (7) and can be anticipated to influence the process of urease-induced crystallization. Zinc has been described as inhibiting urease enzymatic activity and may act as an inhibitor of calcium phosphate crystallization (4,5). A previously described experimental model (2) was utilized and the studies were performed in synthetic and whole human urine.
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