Environmental temperature variations cause degradations in epinephrine concentration and biological activity

This study determined the biological consequence of temperature induced epinephrine degradation. Two different epinephrine preparations (1:1,000 and 1:10,000) were exposed to either cold (5 degrees C) or hot (70 degrees C) temperature. The exposure occurred for 8-hour periods each day in 4-, 8-, and 12-week intervals. Samples and identical controls were then chemically evaluated using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and biological activity of samples showing chemical degradation was assessed in conscious rats. Epinephrine (1:10,000) underwent a significant degradation and a loss of concentration of the parent compound after 8 weeks of heat treatment. By 12 weeks, 64% of the epinephrine was degraded. A smaller (30%) but significant loss of cardiovascular potency was determined by blood pressure and heart rate responses in conscious rats. The degradation of epinephrine (1:1,000) was not statistically significant even after 12 weeks of heat exposure. No change was noted from control in either epinephrine concentration when exposed to cold temperatures. In conclusion, epinephrine (1:10,000) deteriorates in the presence of elevated temperature and should be protected from high temperatures when carried by EMS providers. The degradation products may possess biological activity.