Unexpected absence of correlation between the genetic mechanisms regulating beta-carboline-induced seizures and anxiety manifested in an elevated plus-maze test

Among the ligands of the benzodiazepine site, one can mention the benzodiaz epines as agonists and some beta -carbolines (e.g. methyl-beta -carboline-3 -carboxylate, abbreviated hereafter beta -CCM) as inverse agonists. Most be nzodiazepines and beta -carbolines act on processes involved in memory, anx iety, and convulsions with opposite physiological effects. Since these mole cules have influences on both anxiety and convulsions, we predicted that th ere would exist a genetic correlation between anxiety evaluated in an eleva ted plus-maze and susceptibility to beta -CCM-induced seizures. Using inbre d strains of mice, the genetic correlation was estimated with the Hegmann a nd Possidente model [31]. An absence of genetic correlation was found, show ing that the mechanisms responsible for basal anxiety measured with the ele vated plus-maze test and those leading to susceptibility to beta -CCM-induc ed seizures do not share the same genetic pathways. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.