Anderson and co-workers1 recently described a simple high-performance liquid chromatographic/fluorimetric assay for serotonin and tryptophan, in which deproteinised samples were directly injected. Using this method routinely, we frequently observed interference which could not sufficiently be resolved from serotonin to allow accurate quantitation. However, when the amine was isolated by ion-exchange chromatography prior to HPLC separation as advocated by Koch and Kissinger,2 chromatograms were obtained with practically no extraneous peaks. In this paper the application of this method for the determination of serotonin in CSF, plasma, serum and urine is described.
References
1.
AndersonGMYoungJGCohenDJ, Liquid-chromatographic determination of serotonin and tryptophan in whole blood and plasma. Clin Chem.1981; 27: 775–6.
2.
KochDDKissingerPT. Determination of tryptophan and several of its metabolites in physiological samples by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. J Chromatogr1979; 164: 441–55.
3.
SasaSBlankC LeRoyWenkeDC, Liquid-chromatographic determination of serotonin in serum and plasma. Clin Chem.1978; 24: 1509–14.
4.
GeeraertsFSchimpfesselLCrokaertR. Stability of tryptophan metabolites prior to urine analysis. Clin Chim Acta1980; 102: 247–51.
5.
ProzialeckWCBoehmeDHVogelWH. The fluorometric determination of 5-methoxytryptamine in mammalian tissues and fluids. J NeuroChem.1978; 30: 1471–7.
6.
FranzenFGrossH. Tryptamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine. N,N-dimethyl-5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-methoxytryptamine in human blood and urine. Nature1965; 206: 1052.
7.
CattabeniFKoslowSHCostaE. Gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric assay of four indole alkylamines of rat pineal. Science1972; 178: 166–8.
8.
KemererVFLichtenfeldKMKochTR. A column chromatographic method for the determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid. Clin Chim Acta1979; 92: 81–5.
9.
EngbackFVoldbyB. Radioimmunoassay of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) in cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, and serum. Clin Chem.1982; 28: 624–8.
10.
FrattiniPCucchiMLSantagostinoG, A sensitive fluorimetric method for determination of platelet-bound and plasma free serotonin. Clin Chim Acta1979; 92: 353–60.
