Desmin immunostaining. Podocyte injury revealed by desmin (dark staining) is increased in the vehicle-treated mice compared with C57BL mice. All the drug treatment groups, including Val-Val15, Val-Val50, and Val-Val+Ali, show significant decreases in the desmin-positive areas in the glomeruli. Val-Val+Ali tends to show stronger inhibition of the positive areas than Val-Val15 and Val-Val50. *P < 0.05 vs. C57BL mice, #P < 0.05 vs. vehicle group. Val-Val15: 15 mg/kg per day of valsartan for 10 weeks, Val-Val50: treatment with 15 mg/kg per day of valsartan for the first 4 weeks and treatment with 50 mg/kg per day of valsartan from weeks 4 to 10, Val-Val+Ali: treatment with 15 mg/kg per day of valsartan for 10 weeks and additional treatment with 25 mg/kg per day of aliskiren from weeks 4 to 10.