Puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis (PAN) is a rat model for human minimal change nephropathy. During PAN, severe proteinuria is induced that is paralleled by a reduced expression of a rat podocyte protein, named podoplanin. Podoplanin, also known as glycoprotein 38 (gp38) is a type I membrane protein. Podoplanin localizes in stromal cells of peripheral lymphoid tissue and thymic epithelial cells. As a regulator of the lymphatic endothelium, podoplanin probably plays a role in maintaining the unique shape of podocytes.