Application of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using pre-column derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde for the quantitative analysis of amino acids in adult and fetal sheep plasma, animal feeds and tissues.

The concentration of amino acids in adult and fetal sheep plasma, liver, muscle and animal feeds was determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using an automated data acquisition system and pre-column o-phthaldialdehyde derivatization. Of the seventeen amino acids in the standard mixture, fifteen including glycine and threonine were completely resolved in a total analysis time of 50 min. The clear resolution, high degree of precision and accuracy, relatively rapid analysis and the lack of interference from chemical contaminants in feed and tissue hydrolysates render this technique suitable for routine analysis of large numbers of biological samples of nutritional interest.