Objective To investigate the influences of Chinese herbal remedies（CHR） with the actions of replenishing qi and nourishing yin

and resolving mass and freeing the collateral vessels on renal nephrin-mRNA and ultrastructure in rats with early diabetes.Methods All SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups including group 1（with nephrectomy）

group 2（model）

group 3（with irbesatan）

group 4（with low-dose CHR）

group 5（with mid-dose CHR） and group 6（with high-dose CHR）.The relevant drugs or CHR were given intragastrically to different groups respectively.At the end of 6th week the quantity of 24-hour urine protein（UPro） and kidney function were detected.The pathological changes of renal cortex were observed by using transmission electron microscope（TEM） after HE staining.The expression of nephrin was determined by applying RT-PCR.Results There were pathological changes of diabetic nephropathy observed by the light microscope and TEM in group 2 and 1

which were alleviated in other 4 groups.The quantity of UPro decreased significantly in group 3

4 and 5 compared with that in group 2 and 6（P<0.05）.The renal function was improved significantly in all treatment groups compared with that in group 2（P<0.05）.In group 3

4

5 and 6 the expression of nephrin-mRNA increased significantly compared with that in group 2（P<0.05）.Conclusion CHR with the actions of replenishing qi and nourishing yin

and resolving mass and freeing the collateral vessels have a protective effect on kidney in rats with diabetic nephropathy induced by STZ.