High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of norepinephrine and alpha-methylnorepinephrine in microdissected noradrenergic cell groups of the rabbit brain.
A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection has been developed to measure norepinephrine (NE) and alpha-methylnorepinephrine (alpha-MeNE) in microdissected noradrenergic cell groups of the rabbit brain stem. The method is shown to be specific, accurate and precise and has a sensitivity of 0.5 pmol per sample. The method has been applied to the measurement of NE and alpha-MeNE levels in the A1, A2, A5, A6 and A7 noradrenergic cell groups after administration of the antihypertensive drug alpha-methyldopa (alpha-MD), so that the sites of action of alpha-MD within the central nervous system may be localised.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000032:analysis; D008771:Nordefrin / Q000032:analysis*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D002395:Catecholamines; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008750:Methyldopa; D008771:Nordefrin; D009638:Norepinephrine