Simple method for the simultaneous determination of noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin by stepwise elution from a short column of weak cation-exchange resin.

A simple method for the simultaneous determination of noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin using a short column of Amberlite CG-50 is described. Noradrenaline and dopamine were eluted from the column with phosphate buffers containing 1.5 and 4.0% boric acid, respectively, and then serotonin was eluted with 1.0 N HCl. Catecholamines were determined by a modification of the ethylenediamine condensation method using potassium ferricyanide as oxidant and isobutanol for extraction of the fluorophores. Serotonin was measured by the acidic o-phthalaldehyde method. The method was applied to the simultaneous determination of noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin in discrete regions of rat brain.