Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the significance of AIF expression in the development of DKD by observing the expression of AIF in 2 weeks and 2 months diabetic kidney samples and then comparing them to healthy rat kidneys of the same age. Materials and methods: Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced by i/p injecting 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) to male Sprague-Dawley rats, and was validated by measuring blood glucose level. Control group received citrate buffer. Animals were sacrificed after 2 weeks and 2 months. Cortex areas (glomeruli, proximal and distal tubules) and medullary areas (collecting ducts and distal tubules) were analyzed with antibodies raised against AIF. Results: AIF expression is located in the cortex as well as in the medulla of the kidney. In the cortex AIF is mainly present in the proximal convoluted tubules (pct) and in the medulla mainly present in the collecting ducts (cd). The highest percentage is present in the 2 weeks DM pct group with 92% positive staining. The cd shows a very mild incline in AIF positivity form 81% in the 2 weeks control group to 89% in the 2 month DM group. The staining intensity rose from moderate to strong staining. The pct showed a similar incline and the staining intensity increased stronger from mild to strong. The same rise in intensity was observed in the distal convoluted tubules but the relative increase in AIF positivity was stronger. What is striking is that the incline and absolute AIF staining intensity is roughly the same from the 2 weeks to 2 month in the control group and the DM group, that there is no big difference between the 2 weeks and 2 month DM groups. The absolute amount of AIF cell positivity is also roughly equal in the DM groups and in the DM 2 week group (38%) even twice as big as in the DM 2 month group (18%). Conclusions: Since AIF has a dual role, for the future it is important, if we want to compare studies to find a method to differentiate AIF in different states. If we manage this, AIF could become a parameter to assess kidney status in DKD and one day becomes a tool to block progression of DKD.