Crystal retention by injured urothelium of the rat urinary bladder.

Injuries caused by hydrochloric acid or Triton X 100 application to the rat bladder urothelium, and the effects on calcium oxalate crystal retention, were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Damage due to either compound resulted in desquamation of urothelial cells. The crystals appeared to be retained by a fibrillar material, some of which was identified as fibrin. Heparin treatment of injured urothelium was found to prevent crystal retention.