Objective?To investigate whether rosiglitazone has renal protective effects in diet-induced obese rats. Methods?Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control (NC), obesity (OB) and rosiglitazone (OB+R) group (n=8 in each group). The NC group was fed with normal diet. The OB and OB+R groups were fed with high-fat diet. Four weeks later, rosiglitazone 〔4 mg/(kg·d)〕 was given to the OB+R group by oral gavage. The other two groups were given the same amount of physiological saline in the same manner. After 24 weeks, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) was measured. Endothelial function was determined by measuring vasodilatation of aorta. Renal tissues were collected for morphological and CD31 immunohistochemistry. Glomerular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide （NO) levels were measured. Results?Body weight, visceral fat, plasma free fatty acids (FFAs), plasma triglyceride and ACR levels increased significantly in the obese rats (PPPPPPPP>0.05). Morphological and immunohistochemistry results showed glomerulomegalia, increased glomerular CD31 expression and increased proliferation of glomerular endothelial cells, which were improved by rosiglitazone (PPP
