Filser J G, Koch S, Fischer M, Müller W E
Psychopharmacological Laboratory, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, F.R.G.
J Chromatogr. 1989 Sep 1;493(2):275-86. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4347(00)82734-6.
A simple method for the determination in urine of the norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG) and its conjugated derivatives is described. After an extraction procedure similar to that described by Gaertner and Wiatr [J. Clin. Chem. Clin. Biochem., 18 (1980) 579] isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic separation is performed. MHPG can be detected by either electrochemical or absorbance detection (278 nm). Free MHPG is determined directly, whereas MHPG sulphate and MHPG glucuronide are determined after enzymic hydrolysis. Since total MHPG, which represents the sum of these substances, is determined separately, a comparison of the results allows the effectiveness of the hydrolysis of the MHPG derivatives for each urine sample to be determined. For quantitation, the method of adding standard amounts of MHPG is used.
