Objective:To study the mechanism of tripterygium glycosides(TG) in protecting the kidney by observing the effection of TG in abnormal expression of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) and some factors of kidney function in artificial diabetes rats. Method: Forty-five Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group

diabetic nephropathy(DN) and diabetic nephropathy group treated with tripterygium glycosides(TG) group

1.8 g·kg-1·d-1 ig

once a day

using 8 weeks) DN group and TG group rats were intraperitoneal injected with sacrificed. The rats were sacrificed after 4 and 8 weeks. The body weight

blood glucose

blood urea nitrogen(BUN)

creatinine(Cr) and 24 h urinary protein were measured in each rat. The pathology changing of the rat kidney was observed by HE staining. The expression of CTGF protein in kidney was measured by immunohistochemistry. Result: Compared with control group

the level of blood glucose

BUN

Cr and 24 h urinary protein were significantly increased in DN group (P＜0.01).The expression of CTGF protein was increased in DN group compared with control group(P＜0.01); After intervention with tripterygium glycosides

these indexes were all significantly declined except blood glucose (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: The TG on reducing the urinary protein in DM rats and improving renal injury in diabetic nephropathy may related to the inhibition of renal CTGF expression.