IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF 3‐METHOXY‐4‐HYDROXYPHENYLETHANOL (MOPET) IN HUMAN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AND RAT BRAIN BY MEANS OF GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY‐MASS SPECTROMETRY

Abstract

Abstract— The identification of 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenylethanol (MOPET) in human cerebrospinal fluid and in rat brain is described. Use was made of the high sensitivity and selectivity provided by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Concentrations of MOPET in human cerebrospinal fluid, rat brain and rat urine together with those of some other catecholamine metabolites are given. The effect of intraperitoneal administration of deuterium‐labelled MOPET and haloperidol on rat brain and urine MOPET levels was studied. The quantitative importance of MOPET as an end product of central and peripheral dopamine metabolism in man and rat is discussed.