Objective To analyze the Rxra expression level in 6 tissues of diabetic gerbils and explore the molecular mechanism of diabetes in Mongolian gerbils.Methods We collected 6 tissues including skeletal muscle, liver, adipose tissue, kidney, heart and brain from 6 diabetic gerbils and 6 control animals, respectively. Rxra mRNA and protein expression level in the 6 tissues were separately detected using real-time PCR and western blotting.Results The real-time PCR showed that compared with control animal, mRNA expression of Rxra in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue was significantly decreased in the diabetic group. However, there were no significant differences in the liver between the two groups. The relative expression level in diabetic group exhibited uptrend compared with the control in kidney, heart and brain. According to the results of western blotting, RXRA protein in skeletal muscle was significantly decreased in the diabetes group. RXRA protein was almost undetectable in adipose tissue. Varying expression was observed in other tissues, but there was no significant difference.Conclusions Lower expression of Rxra is observed in the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue of diabetic gerbils. There is no significant difference in other four tissues between the two groups. The results illustrate that the effect of Rxra mainly occurres in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in this diabetic model.