Simultaneous determination of monoamine transmitters, precursors and metabolites in a single mouse brain

A simple and sensitive procedure for simultaneous determination of monoamine transmitters and related substances including precursors and metabolites has been developed for a single mouse brain. The proposed procedure involves (1) primary butanol extraction, (2) separation of the substances into either acid or alkaline aqueous layers according to their physicochemical properties, and (3) determination by means of high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Three transmitters (noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine) and their precursors (tyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and tryptophan) and major metabolites (normethanephrine, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol, 3-methoxytyramine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) were selectively separated and sensitively detected in mouse whole brain sample. Although 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid was also separated from other substances by authentic chromatography, the substance was not detected in mouse brain. Changes in levels of these substances were examined for drugs whose effects had been previously confirmed. These changes reflected putative effects of the drugs and confirmed that the procedure is effective for neurochemical research into the transmitter system.