It was found in our previous studies that two Chinese herbs, Astragali and Angelica (A & A), with a high protein diet could protect the decrease of serum albumin and markedly increase the synthesis rate of protein by 18N-glycine metabolic study in nephrotic rats. A further experiment was designed to investigate the effects of A&A and high protein intake on the level of hepatic albumin's mRNA in nephrotic rats. Male S. D. rats were divided into 3 groups: high protein diet alone (39.7% HP); HP with nephrotic syndrome (HPN); and HPN with therapy (HPNT). Nephrotic syndrome in rat was induced by accelerated nephrotoxic nephritis, withfed A&A (2 g of each in 3 ml) daily for 14 days. At the 15th day, the serum and liver were collected and the level of serum albumin and mRNA were measured with biochemistry, Northern blot, dot blot hybridization and quantity in laser density screening. The level of serum albumin in HPNT was higher than that of HPN (3.7 +/- 0.1 vs 2.9 +/- 0.29, P < 0.01) with an unchanged urinary output. The level of hepatic albumin mRNA in HPNT was higher than HPN (2.56 +/- 0.24 vs 1.7 +/- 0.12, P < 0.01) and HP (2.56 +/- 0.24 vs 1.25 +/- 0.24, P < 0.01). We conclude that in a molecular biologic level A&A combined with high protein intake could increase the albumin synthesis in the liver of nephrotic rat.