A rapid, selective, precise reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of a potential memory-enhancing agent (CL 275,838) and its main metabolite (CL 286,527) in plasma and serum. The procedure includes isolation of compounds from proteins precipitated with acetonitrile, subsequent resolution by reversed-phase (Whatman Partisphere C-8) high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection. The assay was linear over the range 0.12-1.25-mu-g/ml of plasma or serum. The detection limit was 0.12-mu-g/ml, using 0.2 ml of plasma or serum. Intra- and inter-day validation studies indicated an acceptable precision and reproducibility of the method within the concentration range investigated, the overall coefficient of variation being less than 10%. The method is currently applied in support of pharmacological and toxicity studies of the compound in rodents.