Abstract: Objective To observe effects of glycyrrhizin and oleanolic acid on renal histopathological changes induced by subchronic cadmium exposure in rats.Methods Renal glomemli,proximal tubular histopathological changes in CdCl₂-treated、CdCl₂-GL,CdCl₂-OA-cotreated rats were observed with light-microscopy and electro-microscopy.Results Renal glomeruli congestion,swelling and fibrosis,proximal tubular lining cells swelling in CdCl₂-treated rats were significantly ameliorated by GL,OA cotreatments,which were revealed by light microscopy.Ultrastructure examination showed the pathologic changes in constituents of glomeruli and subcellular constituents like mitochondria in proximal tubular cells were less severe in GL,OA cotreated rats than those in CdCl₂-treated rats.Conclusion GL and OA could improve the renal histophathological changes induced by cadmium in a subchronic model in rats.