By 6weeks, prior to onset of hyperglycemia or albuminuria, both the urinary pellet podocin mRNA and podocin:aquaporin2 mRNA ratio in fa/fa rat were already significantly increased above that of controls (P = 0.04), compatible with hypertrophic podocyte stress causing accelerated podocyte detachment at this early time point. The gene discussed is NPHS2; the disease is Hyperglycemia.