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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Use of Ultra-high Field MRI in Small Rodent Models of Polycystic Kidney Disease for In Vivo Phenotyping and Drug Monitoring
Published on: June 23, 2015
Polycystic kidney disease and infertility
E F van der Linden1, A K Bartelink, B W Ike
1Department of Urology, Eemland Hospital, Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
Objective:
To analyze the cause of infertility in a patient with polycystic kidney disease.
Setting:
General hospital.
Patient:
A 32-year-old man known with adult polycystic kidney disease, complaining of infertility and testicular pain.
Interventions:
Testicular biopsy; imaging.
Results:
Examination revealed bilateral severe congestion of the epididymis. The semen contained no spermatozoa and practically no fructose. Testicular biopsy, however, showed normal spermatogenesis. Transrectal ultrasonography and computer tomography revealed severe congestion and extensive cystic changes in the seminal vesicles.
Conclusion:
The dilated cysts in the seminal vesicles had led to obstructive azoospermia, probably through compression of the ductal system.
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