Reptiles, such as snakes and lizards, do not urinate in the same way as humans. Instead, they crystallize their excrement into a solid form, which helps them retain water in their arid environments.
In a recent study, scientists examined solid urine from more than 20 reptile species. They discovered that all of these species contained tiny spheres made of uric acid, the substance that causes crystals to build up in the joints of humans and leads to gout.
This discovery confirms the unique way that reptiles have developed to excrete their waste in a crystalline form, which could be useful to humans in developing new ways to treat gout and kidney stones.
Jennifer Swift, the study's lead researcher and a professor of chemistry at Georgetown University, said, "The study aims to understand how reptiles are able to safely excrete these substances, with the hope of applying this knowledge to treating diseases in humans."
The difference between humans and reptiles in how they handle waste lies in how they eliminate excess nitrogen from their bodies. While humans excrete these substances as urea and uric acid, reptiles convert some of these substances into a solid form known as urate, which is then eliminated through a special opening.
While this method helps reptiles survive in dry environments, it can cause health problems for humans. For example, the accumulation of uric acid in the body can lead to the formation of crystals in the joints (known as gout) or in the urinary tract (causing kidney stones).
Scientists have discovered that some reptiles, such as snakes and Madagascan tree snakes, produce tiny urate spheres no larger than 0.0004 inches. These small spheres help convert toxic ammonia into a safer solid.
The team hypothesizes that uric acid may have a similar role in humans in preventing diseases associated with the accumulation of this acid in the body, but they need more research to confirm this role.
The study was published in the Journal of the AmericanChemical Society.