Salsolinol and salsoline in cerebrospinal lumbar fluid of alcoholic patients.

Analyses of salsolinol and salsoline in human lumbar cerebrospinal fluid and urine have been performed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Twelve male alcoholic inpatients have been investigated. On the first sampling occasion patients were still intoxicated after a heavy alcohol debauch and on the second sampling occasion they had been inpatients and off alcohol for one week. Urine and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid was collected in a uniform way. In urine salsolinol and salsoline was found in all cases. In cerebrospinal fluid salsolinol was found in totally six subjects--one at the first sampling occasion only, four at both and one subject at the last sampling occasion only. Salsoline was found in nine patients--six in both sampling occasions and three only during intoxication. There was a wide interindividual variation and no statistical significant difference in the levels between the first and second sampling in CSF or urine.