Sensitization and tolerance to apomorphine in men: yawning, growth hormone, nausea, and hyperthermia.

This study investigated whether the indices of dopaminergic function, yawning and growth hormone release induced by apomorphine, as well as the drug-induced nausea and hyperthermia, show sensitization or tolerance to repeated injections. Five normal volunteers received 12 injections of apomorphine hydrochloride (0.75 mg/70 kg) every 2 weeks. Yawning, as measured by the latency of onset and the time of peak activity, showed sensitization. The growth hormone response showed no change. Feelings of nausea and hyperthermia showed tolerance to repeated injections. These findings suggest that yawning may be a suitable index of dopaminergic function in studies of schizophrenia.