The influence of sex hormones on renal osteopontin expression and urinary constituents in experimental urolithiasis

PURPOSE: To our knowledge the influence of sex hormones on urinary stone formation remains undetermined. We investigated the effect of castration on urinary lithogenic factors and renal osteopontin expression in rats previously treated with ethylene glycol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided normal males, castrated males, males with 2 weeks of 0.75% ethylene glycol treatment, castrated males with 2 weeks of 0.75% ethylene glycol treatment, normal females, castrated females, females with 2 weeks of 0.75% ethylene glycol treatment and castrated females with 2 weeks of 0.75% ethylene glycol treatment. We analyzed 24-hour urine samples for urinary constituents, such as calcium, oxalate, citrate, uric acid, phosphate, magnesium, sodium, potassium and creatinine. The kidneys were examined for osteopontin expression by Northern blot analysis and for crystal deposition by histological examination. RESULTS: In intact male rats calcium and citrate excretion decreased and oxalate excretion increased significantly after ethylene glycol treatment. Castrated male rats with ethylene glycol had greater calcium and less oxalate excretion than male intact rats with ethylene glycol. In intact female rats uric acid excretion decreased and only calcium excretion increased significantly after ethylene glycol treatment. Castrated female rats with ethylene glycol excreted significantly more oxalate and less calcium than intact female rats with ethylene glycol. Renal osteopontin expression was the same in male intact and castrated rats, and in female intact and castrated rats. In males with ethylene glycol expression was stronger in castrated than in intact rats. In females with ethylene glycol expression was weaker in castrated than in intact rats. No crystal deposits were found in the kidneys in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone appears to promote stone formation by suppressing osteopontin expression in the kidneys and increasing urinary oxalate excretion. Estrogen appears to inhibit stone formation by increasing osteopontin expression in the kidneys and decreasing urinary oxalate excretion.     

西梅汁预防大鼠草酸钙肾结石的实验研究

目的 研究西梅汁对乙二醇诱导的大鼠草酸钙肾结石形成的影响及其量效关系.方法 40只wistar大鼠随机分为8组:A空白对照组、B单纯乙二醇诱石组、C～E为西梅汁干预组[分别灌喂西梅汁2、4、8 mL· (kg·d)-1],每组8只.除空白对照组外,余皆用含1％乙二醇去离子水作为大鼠的唯一饮用水源并自由饮用,以诱导生成草酸钙肾结石.分别于实验前日和实验第4周末,检测大鼠尿钙、镁、草酸及枸橼酸浓度;血钙、镁、肌酐和尿素氮浓度;肾脏组织丙二醛(MDA)含量及总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性;偏光显微镜观察HE染色肾脏组织草酸钙结晶形成情况;TUNEL法检测肾小管上皮细胞凋亡,以此分析西梅汁及西梅干预防肾结石的量效关系.结果 所用三种剂量的西梅汁均能明显减轻乙二醇所致的各项血尿生化指标和肾小管上皮细胞凋亡指数的改变,大幅增加尿镁浓度,明显减少乙二醇诱导的大鼠草酸钙肾结石的生成,且效果呈剂量依赖性.结论 所用的三种剂量的西梅汁均可明显干预乙二醇诱导的大鼠草酸钙肾结石的生成,且呈正相关的量效关系.     

肾结石大鼠肾组织bikunin mRNA的表达

目的 :研究bikunin在实验性肾草酸钙结石大鼠肾组织的表达及意义。方法 :采用乙二醇和氯化铵诱导大鼠肾草酸钙结石模型形成 ,检测各组大鼠肾功能、肾组织Ca2 + 含量和草酸钙晶体沉积、尿生化指标 ,并用逆转录聚合酶链反应 (RT PCR)检测bikuninmRNA在肾组织的表达情况。结果 :模型组大鼠的血清Cr、BUN、肾Ca2 + 含量、2 4h尿Ca2 + 、草酸 (Ox)分泌量和肾组织bikuninmRNA的表达均明显高于正常组 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :高草酸尿和草酸钙结晶的沉积能促使大鼠肾脏通过合成更多的bikunin来抑制大鼠肾组织草酸钙晶体的形成。     

Role of Oxalobacter formigenes in preventing calcium oxalate kidney stones

Objective To screen Oxalobacter formigenes (OxF) from fresh feces of healthy adults, and study its effect on the the prevention of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Methods OxF was screened and cultured from fresh feces of healthy adults. The rat model of calcium oxalate stone was established by esophageal gavage of 0.8% of ethylene glycol. Rats were divided into a control group and four groups of rats with ethylene glycol-induced calcium oxalate kidney stones according to random number table. Three groups were treated with 106 CFU, 107 CFU, 108 CFU viable OxF every day, respectively, for 4 weeks. The blood and 24-hour urine samples were collected to detect the serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, serum and urine calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and urine oxalate every week. At the end of the 4th week, the rats were sacrificed and the kidney tissues were stained with HE and Yasue. The deposition and content of calcium oxalate crystals were observed under a light microscope. Results The bacteria strain isolated from fresh feces of healthy adults was 100% as same as the known ATCC35274 bacteria strain, which means the strain screened is OxF. Among the 5 groups, there were no significant differences in body weight, Scr, BUN, serum calcium, blood magnesium, blood phosphorus, urinary magnesium and urinary phosphorus. The 24-hour urinary calcium excretion in the model group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P＜0.05). After intervention with OxF solution, the 24-hour urinary calcium excretion in the 108 CFU OxF group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P＜0.05), while there was no significant difference between the other intervention groups and the model. The oxalic acid excretion of 106 CFU OxF group and 107 CFU OxF group was lower than that of the model, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P＞0.05). The 24 h oxalic acid excretion in the 108 CFU OxF group was significantly lower than that of the model at the end of first week (P＜0.05), and continued to decrease for the next 3 weeks. After 4 weeks of intervention, no crystal formation was observed in the control group under the deflection microscope, but a large amount of calcium oxalate crystals were formed in the renal cortex and renal medulla. The crystals were piled up and connected to each other. Yasue staining coincided with the calcium oxalate crystal in the same part of the kidneys. Compared with the model, there was no significant change in the score of calcium oxalate crystal in the kidneys of 106 CFU OxF group and 107 CFU OxF group, while the score of calcium oxalate crystal in the kidneys of 108 CFU OxF group was significantly lower (P＜0.05). Conclusions OxF are successively screened from healthy adults. Daily administration of 108 CFU OxF can safely and effectively reduce the urinary oxalic acid excretion, prevent the formation of calcium oxalate crystals and inhibit the formation of stones in kidneys of rats.     

Osteopontin knockdown in the kidneys of hyperoxaluric rats leads to reduction in renal calcium oxalate crystal deposition

Osteopontin (OPN) expression is increased in kidneys of rats with ethylene glycol (EG) induced hyperoxaluria and calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of OPN knockdown by in vivo transfection of OPN siRNA on deposition of CaOx crystals in the kidneys. Hyperoxaluria was induced in 6-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats by administering 1.5 % EG in drinking water for 2 weeks. Four groups of six rats each were studied: Group A, untreated animals (tap water); Group B, administering 1.5 % EG; Group C, 1.5 % EG with in vivo transfection of OPN siRNA; Group D, 1.5 % EG with in vivo transfection of negative control siRNA. OPN siRNA transfections were performed on day 1 and 8 by renal sub-capsular injection. Rats were killed at day 15 and kidneys were removed. Extent of crystal deposition was determined by measuring renal calcium concentrations and counting renal crystal deposits. OPN siRNA transfection resulted in significant reduction in expression of OPN mRNA as well as protein in group C compared to group B. Reduction in OPN expression was associated with significant decrease in crystal deposition in group C compared to group B. Specific suppression of OPN mRNA expression in kidneys of hyperoxaluric rats leads to a decrease in OPN production and simultaneously inhibits renal crystal deposition.     

4种大鼠肾草酸钙结石模型的比较

目的筛选简便、快捷、成石效果好的SD大鼠肾草酸钙结石的造模方法。方法分别采用目前普遍使用的2种大鼠肾草酸钙结石的模型复制方法和2种改良的造模方法进行造模,并设立空白对照组,造模结束后采集每组大鼠24h尿量及血清,比较大鼠24h尿量、尿Ca2＋、尿Mg2＋、尿pH、尿草酸（0x）及血尿素氮（BUN）、肌酐（cr）、P、Ca2＋、Mg2＋,肾脏病理切片HE染色后光学显微镜下观察和比较各组大鼠肾脏病理改变及草酸钙结晶的沉积情况。结果E组[1％乙二醇＋2％氯化铵＋10％葡萄糖（48d）]在光学显微镜下草酸钙结晶沉积较传统组C组明显增多（P〈0．05）,但有30％大鼠死亡,血肌酐在5组大鼠中最高。D组[1％乙二醇＋2％氯化铵＋10％葡萄糖（28d）]较传统组C组草酸钙结晶沉积明显增多（P〈0．05）,并且造模时间短,大鼠存活率高（80％）,E组与D组相比结晶形成量无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,B组[1％乙二醇（28d）3肾脏中无肾结晶形成,仅有轻微的肾脏病理学改变,大鼠无死亡,肌酐不高。空白对照组无结晶形成,无病理改变。结论用1％乙二醇＋2％氯化铵＋10％葡萄糖诱导28天复制肾草酸钙结石模型的效果好,并且花费时间短,大鼠存活率高,建议选用。     

大鼠肾草酸钙结石模型制备效果的比较研究

目的 验证大鼠肾草酸钙结石模型制备方法,为癸壬化石丸治疗肾结石的药理作用及机制研究选择有效的大鼠肾草酸钙结石模型.方法 按文献报道的四种大鼠肾草酸钙结石模型制备方法,将SD大鼠分为A、B、C、D四组,A组采用1％乙二醇+2％氯化铵溶液进行灌胃,B组采用1％乙二醇+2％氯化铵+10％葡萄糖进行灌胃,C组采用1％乙二醇+10％葡萄糖酸钙进行灌胃,D组采用1％乙二醇+2％氯化铵+10％葡萄糖酸钙进行灌胃,28 d后检查尿常规、尿生化、血生化和肾脏标本的病理切片后比较肾草酸钙结石模型制备效果.结果 四种方法制备大鼠肾草酸钙结石模型,造模效果D组＞A组＞B组＞C组.结论 采用1％乙二醇+2％氯化铵+10％葡萄糖酸钙所形成大鼠肾草酸钙结石模型效果较好.     

鱼油抑制实验鼠草酸钙结晶形成

目的 了解鱼油在尿石形成中的作用。方法 ６０只大鼠随机分４组,饮用１％乙二醇（ＥＧ）水,同时喂饲不同剂量的鱼油。４周后检测各组大鼠肾功能、草酸钙结晶、２４小时尿钙和尿草酸。结果 加服鱼油组鼠肾积水、组织水肿减轻,肾组织内草酸钙结晶数及含钙量明显减少,２４小时尿钙排出减少;尿尿素氮、肌酐排出明显增加,而血中尿素氮、肌酐浓度显著低于成石组。结论 鱼油能抑制实验性高草酸尿症大鼠体内草酸钙结晶形成,减少尿     

Dietary oxalate and calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis

PURPOSE: Patients with calcium oxalate kidney stones are advised to decrease the consumption of foods that contain oxalate. We hypothesized that a cutback in dietary oxalate would lead to a decrease in the urinary excretion of oxalate and decreased stone recurrence. We tested the hypothesis in an animal model of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hydroxy-L-proline (5%), a precursor of oxalate found in collagenous foods, was given with rat chow to male Sprague-Dawley rats. After 42 days rats in group 1 continued on hydroxy-L-proline, while those in group 2 were given chow without added hydroxy-L-proline for the next 21 days. Food and water consumption as well as weight were monitored regularly. Once weekly urine was collected and analyzed for creatinine, calcium, oxalate, lactate dehydrogenase, 8-isoprostane and H(2)O(2). Urinary pH and crystalluria were monitored. Rats were sacrificed at 28, 42 and 63 days, respectively. Renal tissue was examined for crystal deposition by light microscopy. RESULTS: Rats receiving hydroxy-L-proline showed hyperoxaluria, calcium oxalate crystalluria and nephrolithiasis, and by day 42 all contained renal calcium oxalate crystal deposits. Urinary excretion of lactate dehydrogenase, 8-isoprostane and H(2)O(2) increased significantly. After hydroxy-L-proline was discontinued in group 2 there was a significant decrease in urinary oxalate, 8-isoprostane and H(2)O(2). Half of the group 2 rats appeared to be crystal-free. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary sources of oxalate can induce hyperoxaluria and crystal deposition in the kidneys with associated degradation in renal biology. Eliminating oxalate from the diet decreases not only urinary oxalate, but also calcium oxalate crystal deposits in the kidneys and improves their function.     

钙敏感受体活性改变对大鼠泌尿系草酸钙结石形成的影响

目的探讨钙敏感受体（CaSR）活性改变对草酸钙结石形成的影响。方法在实验期间给予乙二醇和氯化铵诱导雄性SD大鼠产生泌尿系草酸钙结石。在造模期间给予不同剂量的CaSR抑制剂（NPS-2390）。实验结束时检测各组大鼠血尿素氮（BUN）、肌酐（Cr）、血磷、血钙、血镁、PTH的含量、24h尿量、尿pH值、尿钙、镁、尿草酸的分泌量,显微镜下观察肾组织切片中草酸钙结晶沉积及病理变化情况及肾脏中CaSR表达情况。从而评价CaSR活性的改变对泌尿系结石形成的影响。结果成石对照组大鼠血BUN、Cr、尿草酸、尿钙较空白组明显升高并且有大量结晶形成,表明建模成功。CaSR抑制剂组较成石对照组甲状旁腺激素（PTH）的分泌增加并且血Ca2＋升高尿钙升高。肾组织病理学检查显示CaSR抑制组的肾脏组织中的草酸钙结晶较成石对照组明显增加,组织病理损伤也较重。结论肾脏中及甲状旁腺中CaSR的表达下降可以导致草酸钙结晶的形成增加。     

Calcium oxalate crystal deposition in metabolic syndrome model rat kidneys

Objective: Although an epidemiological link between the metabolic syndrome and kidney stone formation has been reported, the mechanism by which metabolic syndrome promotes kidney stone formation has yet to be elucidated. We investigated calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stone formation in a rat metabolic syndrome model. Methods: We induced hyperoxaluria in 8‐week‐old male Otsuka Long‐Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats, and a control strain, Long‐Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats, by administering 1.0% ethylene glycol (EG) as their drinking water for 2 weeks. Rats were divided into four groups: LETO‐C (control, n = 7); LETO‐SF (stone forming, n = 8); OLETF‐C (n = 7); and OLETF‐SF (n = 8). Urine and blood samples were collected for biochemistry testing, and the kidneys were harvested for estimation of crystal deposition and determinations of the expression of osteopontin (OPN) and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1). Results: Administration of EG induced hyperoxaluria to the same degree in both strains. The OLETF‐SF group showed a higher grade of renal crystal deposition and significantly higher renal calcium content than the LETO‐SF group. Although the OLETF‐C group excreted significantly higher amounts of uric acid and more acidic urine than the LETO‐C group, similar differences were not observed in rats given EG. Significant upregulation of both OPN and MCP‐1 was seen in the kidneys of hyperoxaluric rats, with higher levels of expression in the OLETF‐SF group than the LETO‐SF group. Conclusions: The present results show for the first time that OLETF rats form more renal CaOx crystal deposits compared with control rats under EG‐induced hyperoxaluric conditions. The model described here should be useful for investigating the mechanisms by which the metabolic syndrome promotes CaOx kidney stone formation.     

Influence of hypercalcic and/or hyperoxalic diet on calcium oxalate renal stone formation in rats

OBJECTIVE: To test whether increasing dietary calcium intake prevents calcium oxalate stone formation when the diet is oxalate-rich. Material and methods. Four groups, eight rats in each, were subjected to a lithogenic diet by the addition of 0.5% ethylene glycol to drinking water for 3 weeks. The first group, used as a control, simultaneously received a standard diet. The second group was supplemented with calcium at 500 mg/100 g of diet and the third group with oxalate at 3 g/100 g of diet. The diet given to the last group was supplemented with similar doses of calcium and oxalate. One day before the end of treatment, each animal was placed in a metabolic cage to collect 24-h urine samples and determine urinary parameters. The kidneys were removed to determine calcium oxalate deposits and for histological examination. RESULTS: The number of calcium oxalate crystals in renal tissue was highest in the oxalate group and calcium oxalate deposits were also found to be elevated in this group. Hyperoxaluria and hypocitraturia, induced by a oxalate-rich diet, seemed to be the major causes contributing to aggravated renal stone formation. The protective effect of dietary calcium supplementation, which was clear in the calcium + oxalate group, was probably due to intestinal binding of oxalate by calcium, thereby reducing urinary oxalate excretion. CONCLUSION: Increased dietary calcium intake can prevent calcium oxalate stone formation only when the diet is oxalate-rich.     

The quantitative study of inhibitory effect of pentosan polysulfate and chlorophyllin on the experimental calcium oxalate stone

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of sodium pentosan polysulfate (SPP) and sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) on the formation, growth and aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals in vivo, and to measure the number and the volume of crystals formed in the rat kidney, quantitatively, with a Coulter counter TA-II. The deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in the rat kidney was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 g per Kg of body weight of hydroxy-L-proline and administration of 0.4% ethylene glycol as the drinking fluid ad libitum for 7 days. Daily excretions of urinary oxalate, calcium (ratio to urinary creatinine) and urinary volume were measured. Both kidneys were removed after protocol. The kidneys were homogenized with 0.2 M Tris-buffer (pH 8.0) and subsequently digested in soluene-100. After calcium oxalate crystals were collected, they were suspended in saline saturated with calcium oxalate. The crystal size distribution was measured with a Coulter counter TA-II. In addition, the renal calcium content was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, and the kidneys were examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The crystals formed in the rats' kidneys were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. The results were as follows: 1. There was no deposition of crystals in the kidney of the rats which were not treated. There was intratubular deposition of crystals in the kidneys of the rats injected with hydroxy-L-proline and administered 0.4% ethylene glycol. They consisted of calcium oxalate monohydrate. 2. Renal calcium content was significantly higher in the groups with induced crystals than the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cell injury associated calcium oxalate crystalluria

Renal tubular cell damage, resulting in membranuria, was induced by the administration of subcutaneous gentamicin to male Sprague-Dawley rats. One group of rats received gentamicin only, while a second group was given gentamicin plus ethylene glycol in drinking water at a concentration which increased urine oxalate but alone did not cause calcium oxalate crystalluria. Crystalluria occurred early in the combined treatment groups and persisted for the duration of the experiment. Crystalluria was not present in animals receiving gentamicin or ethylene glycol only. These results suggest that cellular fragments can serve as heterogeneous foci for the nucleation of calcium oxalate crystals.     

A traditional Chinese herbal antilithic formula,Wulingsan, effectively prevents the renal deposition of calcium oxalate crystal in ethylene glycol-fed rats

We investigated the effects of a traditional Chinese herbal formula, Wulingsan (WLS), on renal stone prevention using an ethylene glycol-induced nephrocalcinosis rat model. Forty-one male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups. Group 1 (n = 8) was the normal control; group 2 (n = 11) served as the placebo group, and received a gastric gavage of starch and 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) as a stone inducer; group 3 received EG and a low dose of WLS (375 mg/kg); and group 4 received EG and a high dose of WLS (1,125 mg/kg). Baseline and final 24 h urine samples were collected individually; biochemical data of urine and serum were also obtained at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. After 4 weeks, animals were killed and kidneys were harvested. The kidney specimens were examined by polarized light microscopy and the crystal deposits were evaluated by a semi-quantitative scoring method using computer software (ImageScoring). The results revealed that the rats of placebo group gained the least significant body weight; in contrast, the rats of WLS-fed groups could effectively reverse it. The placebo group exhibited lower levels of free calcium (p = 0.059) and significantly lower serum phosphorus (p = 0.015) in urine than WLS-fed rats. Histological findings of kidneys revealed tubular destruction, damage and inflammatory reactions in the EG-water rats. The crystal deposit scores dropped significantly in the WLS groups, from 1.40 to 0.46 in the low-dose group and from 1.40 to 0.45 in the high-dose group. Overall, WLS effectively inhibited the deposition of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal and lowered the incidence of stones in rats (p = 0.035). In conclusion, WLS significantly reduced the severity of calcium oxalate crystal deposits in rat kidneys, indicating that Wulingsan may be an effective antilithic herbal formula.     

Tamm-Horsfall protein is a critical renal defense factor protecting against calcium oxalate crystal formation

BACKGROUND: The tubular fluid of the mammalian kidney is often supersaturated with mineral salts, but crystallization rarely occurs under normal conditions. The unique ability of the kidney to avoid harmful crystal formation has long been attributed to the inhibitory activity of the urinary macromolecules, although few in vivo studies have been carried out to examine this hypothesis. Here we examined the role of Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP), the principal urinary protein, in urinary defense against renal calcium crystal formation, using a THP knockout model that we recently developed. METHODS: Wild-type and THP knockout mice were examined for the spontaneous formation of renal calcium crystals using von Kossa staining. The susceptibility of these mice to experimentally induced renal crystal formation was evaluated by administering mice with ethylene glycol, a precursor of oxalate, and vitamin D(3), which increases calcium absorption. Renal calcium crystals were visualized by von Kossa stain, dark field microscopy with polarized light and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Inactivating the THP gene in mouse embryonic stem cells results in spontaneous formation of calcium crystals in adult kidneys. Excessive intake of calcium and oxalate, precursors of the most common type of human renal stones, dramatically increases both the frequency and the severity of renal calcium crystal formation in THP-deficient, but not in wild-type mice. Under high calcium/oxalate conditions, the absence of THP triggers a marked, adaptive induction in renal epithelial cells of osteopontin (OPN), a potent inhibitor of bone mineralization and vascular calcification. Thus, OPN may serve as an inducible inhibitor of calcium crystallization, whereas THP can serve as a constitutive and apparently more effective inhibitor. CONCLUSION: These results provide the first in vivo evidence that THP is a critical urinary defense factor and suggest that its deficiency could be an important contributing factor in human nephrolithiasis, a condition afflicting tens of millions of people in the world annually.     

三叶因子1在大鼠草酸钙结石模型肾组织中的表达及其意义

目的 探讨三叶因子1(TFF1)在大鼠草酸钙结石模型肾组织中的表达及其与肾脏草酸钙结石形成机制的关系.方法 分别以1％的乙二醇溶液自由饮用和2％的NH4Cl溶液2 mL/d灌胃2周和4周;用偏光显微镜观察结石结晶形成情况;采用免疫组织化学染色法分别检测成石2周(n=20)、成石4周(n=20)和正常组(n=20)大鼠肾组织TFF1蛋白的表达.结果 TFF1免疫反应阳性物质主要位于肾小球、肾小管,与正常组比较,成石2周肾组织TFF1平均灰度值略下降(P＞0.05),成石4周平均灰度值明显降低(P＜0.05).结论 乙二醇诱导的大鼠草酸钙结石模型肾组织中TFF1低表达,伴随结石结晶数量和密度的增加,TFF1表达降低.TFF1在肾组织中的表达与乙二醇和NH4Cl干预的时限呈负相关;TFF1可能在肾草酸钙结石的形成中起抑制作用.     

Prophylactic effects of quercetin and hyperoside in a calcium oxalate stone forming rat model

Quercetin and hyperoside (QH) are the two main constituents of the total flavone glycosides of Flos Abelmoschus manihot, which has been prescribed for treating chronic kidney disease for decades. This study aimed to investigate the effect of QH on calcium oxalate (CaOx) formation in ethylene glycol (EG)-fed rats. Rats were divided into three groups: an untreated stone-forming group, a QH-treated stone-forming group (20 mg/kg/day) and a potassium citrate-treated stone-forming group (potassium citrate was a worldwide-recognized calculi-prophylactic medicine). Ethylene glycol (0.5 %) was administered to the rats during the last week, and vitamin D3 was force-fed to induce hyperoxaluria and kidney calcium oxalate crystal deposition. 24 h urine samples were collected before and after inducing crystal deposits. Rats were killed and both kidneys were harvested after 3 weeks. Bisected kidneys were examined under a polarized light microscope for semi-quantification of the crystal-formation. The renal tissue superoxide dismutase and catalase levels were measured by Western blot. QH and potassium citrate have the ability to alkalinize urine. The number of crystal deposits decreased significantly in the QH-treated stone-forming group as compared to the other groups. Superoxide dismutase and catalase levels also increased significantly in the QH-treated stone-forming group, as compared with the untreated stone-forming group. QH administration has an inhibitory effect on the deposition of CaOx crystal in EG-fed rats and may be effective for preventing stone-forming disease.