Anticonvulsant effects of 6-methoxy-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-alpha-carboline on audiogenic and electroconvulsive seizures in mice.

6-Methoxy-1, 2, 3, 4, -tetrahydro-beta-carboline (6-MeO-THBC) was tested for anticonvulsant properties against audiogenic seizures in DBA/2J and primed C57BL/6J mice (i.e., mice given a prior auditory exposure) and aginast electroconvulsive seizures in DBA/2J mice. 6-MeO-THBC (100 mg/kg) was found to attenuate both types of behavioral seizures 2 hr after injection as compared to saline controls. In addition, 6-MeO-THBC increased whole brain serotonin and decreased whole brain 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid 2 hr after injection. These results support previous reports which suggest a serotonergic involvement in behavioral seizures.