Abstract: Objective: To study the influence of rutin in the morphology of renal tissue of the diabetic mice induced by streptozotocin(STZ), and to clarify the effect of rutin on the kidney tissue damage.Methods: Twelve mice of the total 70 Kunming mice were used as normal group, the other were used to estabish type 1 diabetes mouse models by intraperitoneally injected with STZ (62.5 mg·kg^-1), once daily for 5 d. The successfully established model mice were randomly divided into model group,low dose (50mg·kg^-1)of rutin group, high dose (100 mg·kg^-1) of rutin group and irbesartan group (45 mg·kg^-1). The mice in model group and normal group were given the carboxy methyl cellulose(CMC) and the other mice were given drugs by intragastric administration once daily for 8 weeks accordingly. The weight and blood glucose of the each mouse were determined.Full automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect the levels of serum creatinine (Cre) and blood urine nitrogen (BUN) of the mice, and the kidney index was calculated. The morphology of renal tissue was observed by HE staining, Masson staining and electron microscope.Results: After injection of STZ,the model success rate was up to 98%.Compared with normal group, there was no significant difference in the weight of the mice in other groups before administration(P>0.05).After administration of rutin, the weights of the mice in model group, low dose of rutin group, high dose of rutin group and irbesartan group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the levels of blood glucose of the mice in low and high doses of rutin groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05);the levels of Cre and BUN were significantly reduced (P<0.05);the kidney index of the mice in high dose of rutin group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with normal group,the kidney tissue of the mice in model group was seriously damaged;glomerular was weaked, the kidney tissue fibrosis was serious, glomerular basement membrane was diffusely thickened and foot process was coalesced or overgrow. Compared with model group,the degree of injury of the mice in low and high doses of rutin groups were significantly improved, especially in high dose of rutin group.Conclusion: Rutin can improve the renal function of diabetic mice induced by STZ and reduce the degree of renal tissue damage in the diabetic mice

Key words: renal morphology, rutin, diabetes mellitus,experimental