Analysis of Trace Amounts of Catecholamines and Related Compounds in Brain Tissue: A Study Near the Detection Limit of Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

Abstract

Analysis of catecholamines and related metabolites is often based on direct injection on the HPLC column of supernatants of centrifuged brain homogenates. In this study we have investigated to what extent direct injection techniques are also useful for analysis in the picogram-range. The use of Sephadex G 10 (which allows a rapid sample purification for 11 compounds) appeared an attractive alternative when direct injection techniques cannot be applied. Various aspects of the routine use of the electrochemical detector at a sensitive setting are discussed. Finally the identity of small peaks in the chromatogram is addressed.