Abstract： Objective To investigate the protective effect of Benazepril on podocyte injury in early diabetic kidney disease.Methods A total of 40 male SPF wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into normal control(NC) group,single nephrectomy(SNE) group,DKD group and Beuazepril(Ben) group,with 10 rats in each group.The DKD model was established by 60 mg/kg STZ intraperitoneal injection.Four weeks later,Ben group received intragastric administration of 10 mg/(kg,d) lotensin,while DKD,group,SNE group and NC group were treated with distilled water.Biochemical indexes were measured,and the pathological changes of kidney tissues and ultrastructure of podocytes were observed in eachgroup.The expression of nephrin and podocin protein in renal cortex was detected by immunofluorescence method.Results Polyuria symptoms alleviated in Ben group.Body weight was higher in Ben group than in DKD group(P＜0.05) during 4 weeks,8 weeks and 12 weeks follow up.Blood glucose was higher in DKD group and Ben group than in NC group and SNE group(P＜0.05).Serum creatinine and 24 h urinary protein were significantly higher while albumin was significantly lower in DKD group than in NC group and SNE group(P＜0.05).Serum creatinine(81.30±20.46)μmol/L and 24 h urinary protein(190.44±5.10) mg/24 h were significantly lower,while albumin(36.47±1.32) g/L was significantly higher in Ben group than in DKD group(P＜0.05).Angiotensin Ⅱ (AT Ⅱ) in renal tissue was higher in DKD group than in NC group(P＜0.05).Angiotensin Ⅱ (AT Ⅱ) in renal tissue was lower in Ben group than in DKD group (P＜0.05).The foot process width,foot process fusion rate and thickness of the basement membrane were significantly lower in Ben group(0.41±0.01) μm,(34.20％±6.81％) and (0.40±0.03) μm,than in DKD group(P＜0.05).The expression of nephrin and podocin protein were higher in Ben group than in DKD group.Conclusion Benazepril has a protective effect in early diabetic nephropathy podocyte,which may be associated with the decrease of renal tissue AT Ⅱ,and increase of the expression of Nephrin and podocin protein.