Background : The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is activated by several stress factors, potentially leading to cellular apoptosis and growth. Little is known about the pattern of p38 MAPK pathway activation in mesangial cells under high glucose conditions. We examined the activity and expression of p38 MAPK members, 1x78 MAPK, MAPK kinase 3/6 (MKK3/6), c-AMP responsive element binding protein (CREE), and MAPK phosphatase-l (MKP-1) in cultured rnesangial cells exposed to high glucose. Methods : Mesangial cells were subcultured from rat glomeruli isolated by sieving technique. After serum restriction for 48 hours rnesangial cells were exposed to 5.6 mM glucose (low glucose, LG), 5.6 mM glucose+24.4 mM mannitol (LG+M), or 30 mM glucose (high glucose, HG) for 3 minutes to 48 hours with or without SU203580. Western blot was performed to determine the activity and protein expression of p38 MAPK members. R`I-I`CR and ELISA were performed for fibronectin mRNA expression and fibronectin synthesis, respectively. Results : p38 MAPK and CREB activities were significantly increased in rnesangial cells exposed to FIG compared with LG or LG+M after 10 minutes and was sustained at higher levels to 48 hours (p<0.05), but total p38 MAPK and CREB protein expressions did not differ. MKP--1 showed a similar pattern as p 3 MAPK and CREE (p