Chloride depletion and nephrocalcinosis
Levine, D.Z.; Roy, D.; Tolnai, G.; Nash, L.; Shah, B.G.
American Journal of Physiology 227(4): 878-883
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 4429137 Document Number: 79599
Rats given a diet deficient in chloride which contained 8.2% sulphate rapidly developed nephrocalcinosis when they drank a neutral phosphate solution. This was prevented when chloride was initially added to the drinking solution, increased by furosemide-induced chloriuresis and partly reversed when chloride was taken subsequently. There was no change in plasma Ca, P or Mg but hypercalciuria and hyperphosphaturia were present. Rats on the same high-sulphate diet developed less severe nephrocalcinosis when they drank water instead of the phosphate solution. On a diet with normal sulphate content the rats again developed nephrocalcinosis while drinking the phosphate solution but not while drinking water; on water excretion of Ca and P was normal but on phosphate solution hyperphosphaturia was present. New deposition of Ca and P was in the ratio of 2.28, consistent with hydroxyapatite. Other concomitants of chloride depletion as sole mediators of the nephrocalcinosis were excluded.