Objective: To study the effect and mechanism of combined Chinese and Western medicines in early diabetic nephropathy (DN) in rats. Method: The male wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:normal and DN groups. Experimental DN was induced in DN group with streptozotocin (STZ)

and the normal group was given equal volume of distilled water. Then the modeled rats were subrandominzed into model group and benazepril (5 mg ·kg-1)+herbal group (50 g ·kg-1). Benazepril+herbal group was medicated respectly

the other two groups were given distilled water. After the rats had been treated for 8 weeks

transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)

collagen Ⅳ

angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ)

monocyte/macrophage(ED-1) in the renal tissues of the rats were detected by immunohistocytochemistry. Result: Compared with model group

the thickened glomerular basement membrane

increased mesangial cells

proliferated mesangialmatrix

and enlarged mesangial area became lightened in benazepril+herbal group after treatment.Moreover

TGF-β1

collagen Ⅳ

AngⅡ and ED-1 were reduced when compare to model group

but which were higher than normal group. Conclusion: This recipe combined with benazepril can reduce the pathological damage of early DN and postphone the development of DN.