AimTo investigate the influence of benazepril alone and in combination with fluvastatin on adiponectin (APN) in adriamycin (ADR)-induced nephrotic rat models.MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly seperated into five groups and given different therapies. Normal control group (n=18).Nephrotic model was induced by tail introvenously injection of ADR (6.0 mg/kg).Eighty-four ADR-induced nephrotic male SD rats were randomly seperated into 4 groups: without treatment group (normal saline 3 mL/d; n=21), benazepril treatment group (benazepril 3.5 mg/(kg·d); n=21), fluvastatin treatment group (fluvastatin 10 mg/(kg·d); n=21) and combined treatment group (benazepril 3.5 mg/(kg·d) plus fluvastatin 10 mg/(kg·d), n=21).After the end of therapies for 2, 6 and 10 weeks, the samples of 24 h urine, serum were collected and assayed (six rats were assigned randomly in every group).ResultsCompared with normal control group, 24 h urinary protein excretion, the serium levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and APN were increased significantly in the other four groups (P<0.01).Treatment with either benazepril or fluvastatin or combined with benazepril and fluvastatin could reduce 24 h urinary protein excretion, reduce the serium levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and APN (P<0.05 or P<0.01), especially for combined treatment group.Proteinuria, total cholesterol, triglyceride were correlated with APN (P<0.01).ConclusionsBenazepril and fluvastatin can decrease proteinuria, reducse serium triglyceride, total cholesterol and APN in ADR-induced nephrotic rats.Combination of benazepril and fluvastatin has superiority over monotherapies on renal protection.These results suggest that benazepril and fluvastatin may mediated through, at least partly, decreasing serum APN and attenuating renal damage.