Determination of 3-Methoxy-4-Hydroxyphenylethylene Glycol, a Noradrenaline Metabolite, in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Urine

Abstract

Abstract We describe a sensitive, accurate method for quantitative determination of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG) in cerebrospinal fluid and urine. The method entails enzymatic hydrolysis of conjugated MHPG, acetylation of the phenolic group, thin-layer chromatographic purification, and estimation of total MHPG as the acetyl heptafluorobutyryl derivative by gas—liquid chromatography with electron capture detection and with use of aldrin as internal standard. Results obtained by this method compare favorably with those by other published procedures. Precision, calculated as the mean ± SD of the percentage differences between duplicate estimations, was 8.4 ± 8.0% for cerebrospinal fluid (3 ml) or 6.9 ± 6.6% for urine (2 ml). Total MHPG in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 49 individuals ranged from 6.1 to 19.7 ng/ml, with no significant difference between the mean for control subjects and that for patients with affective disorders.