Determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine in rat brain regions by gas-liquid chromatography with electron-capture...

An assay method for measurement of 5-hydroxytryptamine in rat brain areas is described. The procedure involves extraction with a liquid ion exchanger followed by acetylation and reaction with pentafluoropropionic anhydride. The resultant beta-carboline is separated and quantitated using gas-liquid chromatography with electron-capture detection. The procedure also works well with 5-methoxytryptamine standards, and the tissue samples were checked simultaneously for the presence of this amine. The results indicate that concentrations of 5-methoxytryptamine in all areas studied (brain stem, hypothalamus, frontal cortex, and striatum) are less than 10 ng/g.