Objective to investigate the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the kidney of STZ induced diabetic rats and its relationship with the early renal hypertrophy.

Results Serum creatinine level ( P< 0.05), urinary albumin excretion and kidney hypertrophy index ( P< 0 01) of valsartan treated group were significantly lower than those of diabetic untreated group.

Conclusion the protective effect of valsartan on diabetic kidney may be partly through inhibiting renal hypertrophy by regulating the expression of cell cycle related protein P27.