The effect of chronic lithium pretreatment on physostigmine-induced yawning was investigated in male rats. Intraperitoneal administration of physostigmine to rats induced yawning in a biphasic manner. However the maximum response was obtained by 0.2 mg/kg of the drug. Intracerebroventricular administrations of a putative M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor antagonists, pirenzepine and methoctramine decreased physostigmine-induced yawning. Intraperitoneal administration of a non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine, also decreased the physostigmine-induced yawning significantly. Chronic lithium pretreatment (30 days) reduced yawning induced by physostigmine. The inhibitory effect of pirenzepine, methoctramine and atropine on physostigmine-induced yawning increased in rats pretreated with chronic lithium. These findings indicate that yawning is induced by a central cholinergic mechanism and that chronic pretreatment of lithium may interact with the cholinergic-induced behaviour.
        
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Sharifzadeh M, Abdollahi M, Dehpour AR, Kebriaeezadeh A, Samini M, Mohammad M (1997) Alterations of physostigmine-induced yawning by chronic lithium administration in rats Pharmacol Toxicol81: 159-63
Sharifzadeh M, Abdollahi M, Dehpour AR, Kebriaeezadeh A, Samini M, Mohammad M (1997) Pharmacol Toxicol81: 159-63