Analysis of the biogenic amines in the central nervous system of the tobacco hornworm by high-performance liquid chromatography with 16-sensor electrochemical detection.

A method was developed to analyze biogenic amines in extracts of the central nervous system of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta by high-performance liquid chromatography with 16-sensor electrochemical detection (n-EC-HPLC). The amines, precursors, and metabolites were separated in two dimensions. The first dimension involves separation based upon retention time by reversed-phase HPLC, while the second dimension involves separation based upon the characteristic oxidation potentials achieved by n-EC. Biogenic amine identification was based upon maximum oxidation potential and peak height ratios in addition to retention time. The improved resolving power of this method allows for a simplified sample preparation procedure and simultaneous determination of a wide range of compounds, including phenylethylamine, catecholamines, indoleamines, and some of their precursors and metabolites.