Interactions of ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate and Ro 15-1788 with CGS 8216 in an animal model of anxiety.

The effect of CGS 8216 (10 mg/kg) alone and in combination with the imidazodiazepine Ro 15-1788 (10 mg/kg) or ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCE 1 mg/kg) was tested in the social interaction test of anxiety. All 3 compounds were found to have an anxiogenic action. When Ro 15-1788 or beta-CCE was combined with CGS 8216, no mutual antagonism of the drugs' effects was observed. The failure of Ro 15-1788 to antagonize the anxiogenic action of CGS 8216 raises the possibility that CGS 8216 might be acting at a non-benzodiazepine site.