Effects of beta-carbolines of plasma corticosterone in mice.

6-Methoxy-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline, a drug which has been reported to increase brain serotonin (5-HT) but not norepinephrine, was tested for its acute effects of pituitary-adrenocortical activity in CF1 mice. The drug produced dose- and time-dependent increases in plasma corticosterone concentration which could be prevented by blocking adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion. Administration of other beta-carbolines or the 5-HT precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan also resulted in plasma corticosterone elevations. Further studies will be needed to determine whether beta-carbolines stimulate pituitary-adrenocortical activity through a central serotonergic system or by some alternate mechanism.