Qualitative and quantitative high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of monoamine neurotransmitters and metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue using reductive electrochemical detection

Abstract

The application of reductive coulometric electrochemical detection for analysis of the monoamine neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin and their common metabolites in brain and cerebrospinal fluid following separation by isocratic high performance liquid chromatography is described. The high sensitivity and screening capabilities of coulometric electrodes permits the accurate quantitation of as little as 3-5 pg of these compounds in tissue following a simple single step purification procedure. Moreover, comparison of peak height ratios obtained from analysis of authentic reference standards and tissue samples at selected multiple electrode potentials provides a straightforward means for qualitative evaluation of peak identification and purity during analysis of biological samples. The method is comparatively inexpensive and precise within and between day coefficients of variation for most compounds range from 2-5%. Thirty samples can be run in duplicate in a 24 h period.