Simultaneous determination of dopamine, serotonin and their metabolites in the rat brain by HPLC method with coulometric detection

A rapid and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of 3-hydroxytyramine (dopamine), 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and their metabolites - 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxytyramine, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid (homovanillic acid) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid in the rat brain was developed. Brain samples with the internal standard and heparin were deproteinized by perchloric acid with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt and sodium sulfite. Following homogenization, centrifugation and filtration, the supernatant was directly injected into a reversed-phase HPLC system with coulometric detector. The response of the detected substances was linear in the range 12-700 ng/g of cerebellum homogenate (24-1 400 pg on column). Total recovery of the method was higher than 95%. The method was used for the determination of catecholamines and their metabolites in the chosen part of rat brain following the inhalation exposure to sarin (organophosphate).