Experimental study on the mechanism of formation of calcium carbonate stones.

The authors previously published a theory of calculus formation that components of a calculus separated from colloidal body fluid are coagulated and solidified by electrostatic effect of electrolytes, bridging action of high molecular-weight organic substances, and kinetic energy supplied from the organism. In support of this theory, they could produce gallstone-like concre ments of calcium bilirubinate as well as bezoar-like coagulates of persimmon in vitro, as reported earlier. This paper is concerned with the developmental mechanism of calcium carbonate stones which occur most commonly in human being. When a suspension of precipitated calcium carbonate was supplemented with proper combination of an inorganic electrolyte and an organic polyelectro lyte and then rotated in a flask, it eventually yielded solid concrements of calcium carbonate that resembled genuine calcium carbonate stones. Accordingly, it has been shown that the theory is valid in formation of this kind of calculi.