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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

A Convenient Method for Extraction and Analysis with High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography of Catecholamine Neurotransmitters and Their Metabolites
Published on: March 1, 2018
Simultaneous determination of polyamines and catecholamines in PC-12 tumor cell extracts by capillary electrophoresis
Ming Du1, Virgil Flanigan, Yinfa Ma
1Department of Chemistry and Center for Environmental Science & Technology, University of Missouri-Rolla, 1870 Miner Circle, Rolla, MO 65409, USA.
Abstract:
A method to detect polyamines and catecholamines in PC-12 tumor cell extracts by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) is described for the first time. Both derivatization conditions and buffer concentrations and pH were optimized. Under optimized conditions the polyamines (putresine, spermine, spermidine) and catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin) were derivatized with fluorescein isothiocyanate and separated at 25 kV in a fused-silica capillary (50 microm ID x 40 cm) with 0.1 M borate, pH 9.0, in less than 18 min. The influence of running buffer conditions, such as buffer pH and concentrations, were also investigated. Linearity of the analytes ranged from 0.05 to 1.0 micromol/L, and the detection limit (S/N = 3 ) ranged from 0.03 to 2.50 nmol/L. The concentrations of polyamines and catecholamines in PC-12 tumor cell extracts were determined with this method.
