Calcification of collagen by urine in vitro: dependence on the degree of saturation of urine with respect to brushite.

A state of supersaturation of urine with respect to brushite is considered to be important in the formation of renal stones composed of calcium phosphate. 56 supersaturated urine specimens and 44 undersaturated specimens were incubated with collagen (Sigma collagen). Most of the supersaturated specimens calcified the collagen, whereas none of the undersaturated ones did so. Among samples which calcified the collagen, whereas none of the undersaturated ones did so. Among samples which calcified the collagen, the activity product of Ca(++) and HPO(4) (=) after incubation with collagen was essentially the same as that after incubation of the same specimen with brushite; it usually differed from that obtained after incubation with octacalcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite. The molar calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of the solid phase in collagen was approximately 1. These results suggested that the solid phase formed in collagen is brushite. This conclusion was confirmed by the direct identification of brushite in collagen by X-ray diffraction.