title: The effects of crocin and safranal on the yawning induced by intracerebroventricular injection of histamine in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Crocin and safranal, as the major constituents of saffron, have many biological activities. This study investigated the effects of crocin and safranal on yawning response induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of histamine in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In ketamine/xylazine-anesthetized rats, a guide cannula was implanted in the right ventricle of the brain and yawning induced by i.c.v. injection of histamine. Crocin and safranal were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected alone and before i.c.v. injection of histamine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histamine at the doses of 10 and 20 µg/rat produced yawning. Mepyramine (a histamine H1 receptor antagonist) 40 µg/rat significantly (p<0.05) prevented histamine (20 µg/rat)-induced yawning. Crocin (30 mg/kg) and safranal (1 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) increased histamine (10 µg/rat)-induced yawning. Crocin and safranal also induced yawning when injected before mepyramine plus histamine administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study showed a yawning-inducing effect for central histamine, which was inhibited by mepyramine. Crocin and safranal increased histamine-induced yawning, and also produced yawning when the histamine action is blocked.
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Mina
authors: M
authors: Taati
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Esmaeal
authors: E
authors: Tamaddonfard
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Amir
authors: A
authors: Erfanparast
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Ghasemi
keywords: Crocin; Histamine; Safranal; Yawning