Chemical composition and microstructure of uroliths associated with the feeding of high-level cottonseed meal diet to sheep.

Abstract

The chemical composition and microstructure of five urolith samples (4 bladder stones and one kidney stone) associated with the feeding of high level of cottonseed meal (CSM) diet to Chinese merino fine wool sheep (Junken breed, Xinjiang) were examined by optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy analysis. The bladder stone samples appeared yellow or white, small powder and loose mass, and as finely granular under the optical microscope. However, the kidney stone samples from a experimental sheep were found as small brown mass, higher hardness, and as a cracklike structure. Oxygen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were found as four major elements in these uroliths by X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Potassium magnesium phosphate (MgKPO(4)) and potassium magnesium phosphate hexahydrate (MgKPO(4)·6H(2)O) were major components in the bladder stones, while less magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH(4)PO(4)·6H(2)O) examined by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy analysis. However, the newly found prismatic crystals, which were rich in magnesium and pyrophosphate, were identified as magnesium pyrophosphate (Mg(2)P(2)O(7)) in the kidney stone. The bladder stone samples appeared irregular mass and balls, cracked under SEM with low magnification, while appeared cracked, irregular layer-like, honeycomb-like or tiny balls under high magnification. The kidney stone samples were observed as cone, irregular block or layered crystal structures.

• Authors: Xiao-Liang Pan, Zheng-Shun Wen, Xiao-Ting Zou, En-Ku Zhou, Huan-Qi Kou, Zi-Rong Xu, Wen-Ju Zhang
• Journal: Research in veterinary science (Res Vet Sci) Vol. 91 Issue 3 Pg. 405-11 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1532-2661 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20933249 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Crown Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier India Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cottonseed Oil

Topics

• Animal Feed (adverse effects, analysis)
• Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
• Animals
• Cottonseed Oil
• Diet (veterinary)
• Sheep
• Sheep Diseases (etiology)
• Urinary Calculi (chemistry, ultrastructure, veterinary)
• Urolithiasis (etiology, veterinary)