Objective:To investigate the effect of berberine(BBR)on the renal tubules in type 2 diabetic rats and analyze its significances.Methods:Thirty male SD rats of clean grade were fed by high-fat and high-sugar diet for 8 weeks

then divided randomly and equally into 3 groups.Of the 3 groups

2 groups were chosen to make model of Type Ⅱ diabetes by intravenous injection of STZ and then fed BBR and aspirin respectively for 8 weeks;the other group as the control group(CON)treated by tail-vein injection of citrate buffer solution and then fed aspirin for 8 weeks.All the rats were examined for blood glucose

lipid and insulin levels regularly.Using immunohistochemical staining and periodic acid-Schiff reaction after the intervention to measure GLUT4 expression in the kidney and observe renal pathological changes.Results:GLUT4 expression increased significantly in the kidney of BBR intervention group compared with the model groups;renal tubular epithelial cell swelling and accumulation of intracellular glycogen particles of BBR group were significantly lighter than those of model groups.Conclusions:BBR can slow down the process of pathological changes in the renal tubules of type 2 diabetic rats

may be due to BBR-induced enhancement of the expression level of GLUT4 in the renal tubules.