S.E.M. study of urease-induced crystalluria in the presence of hydroxamic derivatives.

The effect of 3 hydroxamic acid derivatives on urease-induced crystalluria was studied in vitro. Acetohydroxamic acid is more effective than salicylhydroxamic and gentisohydroxamic acids in inhibiting the kinetic of urease enzymatic reaction and in retarding the formation of struvite and apatite. Crystal deposits studied by scanning electron microscope (S.E.M.) and X-ray microanalysis indicated that acetohydroxamic acid favours the formation of large crystals of struvite, and less aggregation is observed. Salicyl and gentiso derivatives favour the formation of brushite together with struvite and apatite.