Analysis of Catecholamines, Serotonin and Their Related Compounds in Cerebrospinal Fluids by HPLC with Twin-Electrode Voltammetric-Amperometric Detection

Abstract

We have developed an HPLC system for analysis of catecholamines, serotonin, and their related compounds in body fluids. This system consists of an ODS reversed-phase column, a newly developed twin-electrode voltammetric-amperometric detector with two glassy-carbon working electrodes, and an integrator. The lower limits of detection were 8pg for NE, E, DA, DOMA, DOPA, DOPAC, and VMA, 15pg for MHPG, NMN, and 5-HIAA, and 20pg for HVA and 5-HT. Using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as sample, the between-day CVs of MHPG, 5-HIAA, and HVA were less than 5%. We have determined MHPG, 5-HIAA, and HVA in CSF from patients with various diseases and characteristic changes in the concentrations of these substances for each disease.