Urolithiasis Following Portacaval Shunt in Rats

A reliable technique for a portacaval anastomosis (PCA) in rats was first published by Lee and Fisher 1961. Since then the biological and biochemical consequences have been studied extensively in numerous investigations. The occurrence of a urolithiasis following PCA was first reported by Herz et al. 1972. Disturbances of uric acid metabolism that were caused by the shunt were thought to be responsible. They should lead to an increased production of endogenous uric acid and thus to hyperuricosuria. Investigations that were published since then mainly focused on chemical stone analysis (Bichler et al. 1974; Rasenack et al. 1977; Wallace et al. 1984).