New high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the detection and quantification of beta-phenylethylamine

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of beta-phenylethylamine for the estimation of in vivo protein synthesis

A rapid, sensitive, and automated reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method was developed for the analysis of phenylalanine as beta-phenylethylamine, for the measurement of in vivo protein synthesis. beta-Phenylethylamine was derivatized with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) to form a fluorescent derivative that was successfully measured in tissue cell fluids and hydrolysates as the decarboxylation product of phenylalanine. The system was extremely sensitive enabling the accurate determination of 0.5 pmol in biological samples. Analysis time was less than 11 min, so that 130 samples can be analysed per day. The method eliminates the need for time-consuming column extraction procedures. This method offers substantial advantages over existing methods for the isolation and determination of beta-phenylethylamine.

Quantification of plasma phenylethylamine by combined gas chromatography/electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry of the N-acetyl-N-pentafluorobenzoyl derivative

An ultrasensitive method capable of detection and quantification of beta-phenylethylamine in 1 ml of human plasma has been developed using gas chromatography/electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry. Phenylethylamine and tetra-deutero phenylethylamine internal standard in plasma were acetylated, extracted into organic solvent and then further acylated with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride. The N-acetyl-N-pentafluorobenzoyl-phenylethylamines were detected by high-resolution single ion monitoring of the molecular ions. Normal plasma levels were found to be 41.5 +/- 10.7 pg ml-1, in accordance with results of a previous high-performance liquid chromatographic method.

Rapid and sensitive determination of beta-phenylethylamine in animal brains by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection

A reversed phase HPLC method with fluorometric detection for the analysis of beta-phenylethylamine has been developed using p-methoxyphenylethylamine as an internal standard. Two columns, containing 200 microL of Dowex 50-X8 and Amberlite CG-50 respectively, were used to prepare a fraction containing beta-phenylethylamine. The recoveries of beta-phenylethylamine and p-methoxyphenylethylamine were 53.9 +/- 9.4% and 68.1 +/- 12.4%, respectively, and elution profile of p-methoxyphenylethylamine was sufficiently well correlated with that of beta-phenylethylamine. Regional distributions of beta-phenylethylamine in rat and mouse brains were determined. The highest concentrations were found in hypothalamus and hippocampus in both animals.