Adrenalectomy and dexamethasone replacement on yawning behavior
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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

A Surgical Procedure for the Administration of Drugs to the Inner Ear in a Non-Human Primate Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
Published on: February 27, 2018
José Anías-Calderón1, Leticia Verdugo-Díaz, René Drucker-Colín
1Depto. de Fisiología, Preclínicas Victoria de Girón, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas, Habana, Cuba.
Abstract:
Yawning, a phylogenetic behavior, present in reptiles, birds and mammals, has been studied for several decades, but to date its physiological function is still unknown. The role of stress as well as several peptides and the hypothalamus has been studied in relation to its regulation. To date however, no studies has been carried out to determine the role of the adrenal glands. Therefore, yawning behavior was studied in adrenalectomized rats, who then received dexamethasone replacement. The results show that rats whose adrenal glands were removed stopped both spontaneous and apomorphine-induced yawning, while dexamethasone reverted this effect. The results are discussed in terms of the possible role of corticosterone on yawning behavior.
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