The medial amygdala is part of a mineralocorticoid-sensitive circuit controlling NaCl intake in the rat.

Damage in female rats to the medial region of the amygdala abolished the sodium appetite that is evoked by mineralocorticoids (both aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone) without preventing the sodium appetite induced by body sodium depletion. It also eliminated or reduced the daily-need free saline intake of the female rat. These results suggest that the medial region of the amygdala is part of a specifically mineralocorticoid-sensitive neural circuit subserving sodium appetite.