Intrinsic behavioural actions of n-propyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate

The behavioural effects of n-propyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCP) were assessed in the social interaction test of anxiety and in the holeboard test of exploratory behaviour. n-Propyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (2 mg/kg) significantly reduced the time spent in social interaction without affecting locomotor activity, indicating an anxiogenic action. This reduction was not significantly reversed by chlordiazepoxide (3 mg/kg). In the holeboard, beta-CCP (4 mg/kg) reduced exploratory head-dipping and rearing; neither of these effects was significantly reversed by chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg). The actions of beta-CCP in these two tests are similar to those of the structurally-related compound ethyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate.