title: Use of high-performance liquid chromatography to separate very small quantities of radio-labelled metabolites from biological tissue.
abstract: In order to study the absorption, metabolism and tissue distribution of chemicals in cattle ticks Amblyomma variegatum, a method of separating and recovering metabolites in picogram quantities was required. A high-performance liquid chromatographic system has been investigated for this purpose, using tritium-labelled amitraz and some potential metabolites. Separation was carried out on Nucleosil 5 mum NO2 bonded phase. Interchangeable pre-columns were used to extend the range of compounds which could be separated in one run and to keep the main column free of radioactive contamination. Amitraz, 2,4-dimethylaniline and 2,4-dimethylformanilide were eluted from the column quantitatively without the addition of unlabelled carrier, down to quantities of 0.75 pg, 0.78 pg and 1.60 pg, respectively. Apparatus for automated collection of the column eluate in scintillation vials and a method for data processing are described.
mesh_terms: D000813:Anilides / Q000032:analysis*; D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D013987:Ticks; D014052:Toluidines / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000813:Anilides; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D007306:Insecticides; D014052:Toluidines; C014983:amitraz