From the Behavioral Pharmacology of Beta-Carbolines to Seizures, Anxiety, and Memory

A number of beta-carbolines are inverse agonists of the GABA-A receptor complex, acting on the benzodiazepine site. They show convulsive properties when administered at high doses, anxiogenic properties at moderate doses, and learning-enhancing effects at low doses. These data suggest a possible phy...

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Main Authors: Patrice Venault, Georges Chapouthier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2007-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2007.48
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author Patrice Venault
Georges Chapouthier
author_facet Patrice Venault
Georges Chapouthier
author_sort Patrice Venault
collection DOAJ
description A number of beta-carbolines are inverse agonists of the GABA-A receptor complex, acting on the benzodiazepine site. They show convulsive properties when administered at high doses, anxiogenic properties at moderate doses, and learning-enhancing effects at low doses. These data suggest a possible physiological relationship, through the GABA-A receptor channel, between memory processes, anxiety, and ultimately, in pathological states, epileptic seizures. This relationship seems to be confirmed partially by experiments on mouse strains selected for their resistance (BR) and sensitivity (BS) to a single convulsive dose of a beta-carboline. These two strains also show differences in anxiety and learning abilities. However, some opposite results found while observing the behavior of the two strains suggest that in addition to pharmacologically induced anxiety, there is spontaneous anxiety, no doubt involving other brain mechanisms.
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spelling doaj-art-42751841cd914698aced7504fb19feaa2025-02-03T01:24:03ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2007-01-01720422310.1100/tsw.2007.48From the Behavioral Pharmacology of Beta-Carbolines to Seizures, Anxiety, and MemoryPatrice Venault0Georges Chapouthier1Vulnérabilité, Adaptation et Psychopathologie, CNRS UMR 7593, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91 Bd de l'Hôpital, 75634 Paris cedex 13, FranceVulnérabilité, Adaptation et Psychopathologie, CNRS UMR 7593, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91 Bd de l'Hôpital, 75634 Paris cedex 13, FranceA number of beta-carbolines are inverse agonists of the GABA-A receptor complex, acting on the benzodiazepine site. They show convulsive properties when administered at high doses, anxiogenic properties at moderate doses, and learning-enhancing effects at low doses. These data suggest a possible physiological relationship, through the GABA-A receptor channel, between memory processes, anxiety, and ultimately, in pathological states, epileptic seizures. This relationship seems to be confirmed partially by experiments on mouse strains selected for their resistance (BR) and sensitivity (BS) to a single convulsive dose of a beta-carboline. These two strains also show differences in anxiety and learning abilities. However, some opposite results found while observing the behavior of the two strains suggest that in addition to pharmacologically induced anxiety, there is spontaneous anxiety, no doubt involving other brain mechanisms.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2007.48
spellingShingle Patrice Venault
Georges Chapouthier
From the Behavioral Pharmacology of Beta-Carbolines to Seizures, Anxiety, and Memory
The Scientific World Journal
title From the Behavioral Pharmacology of Beta-Carbolines to Seizures, Anxiety, and Memory
title_full From the Behavioral Pharmacology of Beta-Carbolines to Seizures, Anxiety, and Memory
title_fullStr From the Behavioral Pharmacology of Beta-Carbolines to Seizures, Anxiety, and Memory
title_full_unstemmed From the Behavioral Pharmacology of Beta-Carbolines to Seizures, Anxiety, and Memory
title_short From the Behavioral Pharmacology of Beta-Carbolines to Seizures, Anxiety, and Memory
title_sort from the behavioral pharmacology of beta carbolines to seizures anxiety and memory
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2007.48
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