Determination of succinylcholine in tissues by TLC, GC/NPD, and GC/MS

Succinylcholine, a bis-quaternary ammonium compound, is considered an elusive analyte due to rapid hydrolysis by pseudocholinesterase in plasma. However, tissue acetylcholinesterase is relatively inactive toward this substrate. Hence, analysis of tissues of succinylcholine-treated animals may reveal the presence of unchanged drug. This report describes three chromatographic techniques (TLC, GC/NPD, and GC/MS) which may be applied to the analysis of this substance in human tissues. Validation of the techniques was accomplished using tissues from rats treated with succinylcholine.