Objective: To compare the influence of body weight in diagnostic importance for experimental diabetic nephropathy rats among three urinary protein screening methods. Method: Seventy-two SPF male Sprague-dawley rats were randomLy divided into control group (NC

n=27) and diabetic group(DM

n=45)

which were induced with streptozotocin once intraperitoneal injection. At 4

8

12

16 w after injection

the 24 h urine albumin levels were measured by immunoturbidime-try.The body weight and general renal function index were monitored and the tissue sections of renal were examined with lightmicroscopy. Result: The levels of UTP

UAER

UTP/BW

UAER/BW and UACR/BW were higher in diabetic rats than that of the normal group(P<0.05)

but there was no difference in UACR between the two groups.There was no correlation between the levels of the five different urinary albumin screening methods and renal-related indicators in diabetic rats. Conclusion: These data indicate that the body weight only affect the diagnostic importance of UACR and the five different urinary albumin screening methods could not be a perfect marker in diagnosis of diabetic early-stage nephropathy and indicator of the developing process of glomerulosclerosis.