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Brattleboro strain rats homozygous for hypothalamic diabetes insipidus (DI rat) excrete nearly their body weight per day in dilute urine and yet can form bladders stones composed of struvite and apatite. Studies were undertaken to investigate this apparent paradox. The results show that DI rat urine is indeed undersaturated with respect to struvite and apatite. However, chronic infection of DI rat urine with a urease-containing organism (Proteus mirabilis) results in the rapid formation of large struvite/apatite bladder stones. It is concluded that the Brattleboro strain DI rat, like man and unlike other rats, forms struvite/apatite calculi only in the presence at chronic urinary tract infection.

Polyuria of diabetes insipidus and psychogenic polydipsia can produce massive dilatation of the urinary tract in the absence of any mechanical obstruction. Renal failure in these cases is rare. We report the second case of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus with nonobstructive hydronephrotic renal damage. Temporary suprapubic drainage restored renal function to normal and decreased the upper tract dilatation. Renal function has been preserved for more than 10 years. Surgical intervention beyond temporary vesical drainage is unnecessary.