SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF NOREPINEPHRINE, DOPAMINE, AND SEROTONIN IN BRAIN-TISSUE BY HIGH-PRESSURE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION

High-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (l.c.e.c.) is utilized in a procedure for the simultaneous determination of three of the most important neurotransmitters in nervous tissue samples. The high degree of selectivity and sensitivity (subpicomole limits for each component) makes this technique directly applicable to extremely small samples. After optimal conditions had been established, the procedure was employed in the determination of all three components in whole mouse brains, seven separate mouse brain parts, and diurnal variations of whole mouse brains. The technique outlined does not require sample splitting, tissue pooling, component derivatization, or coupled enzymatic reactions to achieve the desired results. Twenty individual samples may be accommodated per day. © 1979.