Expression of osteopontin in rat kidneys: induction during ethylene glycol induced calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.

Purpose: Osteopontin is a well-known component of stone matrix and a strong inhibitor of the nucleation, growth and aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals in vitro. To understand its involvement in vivo in calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis we investigated the renal expression and urinary excretion of osteopontin in normal rats, and rats with hyperoxaluria and calcium oxalate crystal deposits in the kidneys.

Materials And Methods: Calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis was induced by administering ethylene glycol.