The simultaneous determination of the biogenic amines, dopamine and serotonin, and their metabolites, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, 3-methoxytyramine and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, in brain tissue was investigated using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. A clearly separated and highly sensitive chromatogram was obtained. A favorable condition to prevent the reduction of the amines and their metabolites in either the standard or tissue homogenate was the use of 0.1 M formic acid for the stock and homogenizing solutions. The dopamine level in the nucleus caudatus putamen was increased 20 min after treatment with methamphetamine (4 mg/kg, i, p.), but not in other areas. The 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid level was reduced in the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, tuberculum olfactrium and nucleus caudatus putamen, and the homovanillic acid concentration was decreased in only the nucleus accumbens following methamphetamine. The serotonin and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid levels were not changed significantly in any of the brain regions. The present observations suggest that methamphetamine, at an early stage after administration, leads to an inhibition of the degradation of dopamine (but not Serotonin) in central nervous system.
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