A colorimetric method for assay of serotonin deamination by monoamine oxidase

The present method involves conversion of the aldehyde produced, as a result of serotonin deamination by monoamine oxidase, to its 2:4 dinitrophenyl hydrazone derivative which gives a stable, bright yellow colour in alkaline solution and can be measured colorimetrically. The derivative is however unstable in the acidic medium and has to be extracted into an organic solvent immediately. The details of the method and its standardization are discussed.