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Thirsty rats, trained to press a lever for distilled water or .15 M solutions of various salts, were tested when neither thirsty nor rewarded. Rats receiving sodium salts (chloride, phosphate, or acetate) during training but sodium depleted during testing pressed 2-3 times more during testing than (a) rats trained with distilled water, calcium chloride, or potassium chloride solutions and were sodium depleted during testing, (b) rats trained with water or with sodium chloride solution but not sodium depleted during testing, or (c) rats trained with sodium chloride solutions and sodium depleted but repleted with sodium prior to testing.

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The effect of DOC on sodium chloride (saline) intake was studied in intact and adrenalectomized rats under "two-bottle" self-selection conditions. It was found that in adrenalectomized rats low doses of DOC produced a decrease in saline intake (restoration of sodium-retaining ability), whereas high doses produced an increase in saline intake (stimulation of sodium appetite). At high doses, however, intact rats consumed more saline and manifested a greater preference for it than did similarly treated adrenalectomized rats. Treatment with corticosterone increased both absolute saline intake and saline preference of DOC-treated adrenalectomized rats.

Insulin resistance occurs under conditions of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. It was found to be accompanied by down-regulation of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter GLUT4. Decreased adipocyte GLUT4 caused secretion by adipocytes of the serum retinol-binding protein RBP4. Enhanced levels of serum RBP4 appeared to be the signal for the development of systemic insulin resistance both in experimental animals and in humans. In mice, increased levels of serum RBP4 led to impaired glucose uptake into skeletal muscle and increased glucose production by liver, whereas lowered serum RBP4 levels greatly enhanced insulin sensitivity. Thus, a link has been established between obesity and insulin resistance: RBP4, the vitamin A-transport protein secreted into the circulation by adipocytes.

Specific proteins in the nucleus act as transcription factors upon activation through binding of small molecules (all-trans-retinoic acid, thyroid hormone, vitamin D, and others). The activated (liganded) receptors bind to specific DNA elements as heterodimers, each in combination with the retinoic acid-X receptor (RXR). 9-Cis-retinoic acid binds to RXR with high affinity and activates it. Though 9-cis-retinoic acid was initially found in animal tissues, in later work 9-cis-retinoic acid could not be detected. A search for a ligand for RXR in tissues showed that unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic, linolenic, and docosahexaenoic acids, bound to and activated RXR as specific ligands, although with low affinity. A critical experiment demonstrated that, at least in developing mouse skin, 9-cis-retinoic acid is not the ligand for RXR.

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