title: In-use stability of monoamine metabolites in human cerebrospinal fluid.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of the monoamine metabolites homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) are commonly used to provide information about central nervous system (CNS) dopaminergic and serotonergic activity. However, little attention has been given to the effects of sample handling on the concentrations of these compounds in human CSF. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection, we observed that, in CSF stored at -80 degrees C, concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA and the dopamine metabolite HVA remained unchanged through six 1-h and six 24-h freeze-thaw cycles. Exposure to bright room light (3 h, 1,230 lux) resulted in a 5-HIAA concentration that was 96.3 +/- 2.0% of the initial and an HVA concentration that was 98.8 +/- 1.03% of initial. The pH of the CSF significantly increased during both freeze-thaw series and while maintained on ice (4 degrees C). These results demonstrate the in-use stability of 5-HIAA and HVA in human CSF under commonly-encountered laboratory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, OH 45220-2213, USA. jeffreystrawn@aol.com
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Strawn
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Ekhator
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Geracioti
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005615:Freezing; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008027:Light
chemical_list: D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D006719:Homovanillic Acid