Objective To observe the expression of N-cadherin in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) ratsprime;retinae. Methods Celiac injection with 65 mg/kg STZ was performed on 20 rats to set up the diabetic model, and celiac injection with the same volume citrate buffer was performed on other 20 SD rats as the control. Vascular permeability was detected by Evans blue method. The expression of N-cadherin in both normal and STZ-induced diabetic ratsprime;retinae and trypsinase-digested retinal microvessels were detected by immunohistochemistry method and Western blotting analysis. Results Retinal vascular permeability increased 68%, 91% and 125% 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively, after diabetic models was induced (Plt;0.005). In the control group, the expression of N-cadherin was detected in the outer and inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer，ganglion cell layer,internal limiting membrane and between retinal endothelial cells and pericytes. However, the expression of N-cadherin significantly decreased in STZ-induced diabetic rats retinae at the 12th week. The results of Western blotting analysis showed that the expression of N-cadherin obviously decreased as the diabetic retinopathy developed. Conclusion The decrease of expression of Ncadherin in the retinae of STZ-induced diabetic rats suggests that N-cadherin may participate in the development of diabetic retinopathy at the early stage. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2007,23:269-272)