生物样品中儿茶酚胺类物质分析方法的研究进展

儿茶酚胺是人体内重要的神经递质,血浆及尿中儿茶酚胺的浓度水平可用于诊断高血压、嗜铬细胞瘤及成神经细胞瘤等病症,因而准确测定人体生物样品中儿茶酚胺类物质代谢浓度的变化,在疾病的诊断和治疗中具有重要的意义。该文综述了人体液和组织中儿茶酚胺类物质的不同分析方法,包括高效液相色谱法、毛细管电泳法、质谱法、电化学法、化学发光法、荧光光度法等。     

Accelerated Curing Speed of Ethyl α‐Cyanoacrylate by Polymer with Catecholamine Groups

Four kinds of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives with the similar backbone and different side groups have been synthesized successfully. When both catecholamine and double bond are tethered to polymer backbone, i.e., the PEG backbone, simultaneously, the polymer can accelerate the curing speed of ethyl α‐cyanoacrylate (commercially available as 502) greatly under the same conditions (the curing time of such system is no more than 5 s). Probably this is due to the autoxidation of catecholamines. Through the redox‐cycling, catecholamines can produce, collect free radicals, and thus initiate the free radical polymerization. Due to the fast‐curing of such material when mixed with α‐cyanoacrylate, we could design and develop a new bicomponent super bioglue used in the dentistry or other bioenvironment requiring super fast settlement for further surgical operations.     

Development of a 6-hydroxychroman-based derivatization reagent: application to the analysis of 5-hydroxytryptamine and catecholamines by using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

We developed a novel derivatization reagent, (2R)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-6-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yloxy)chroman-2-carboxylate (NPCA), for electrochemical (EC) detection in HPLC. NPCA was synthesized from (R)-(+)-6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (alpha-CA), which exhibits intense EC response. NPCA successfully yielded alpha-CA derivatives of primary amines by a two-step derivatization procedure. Following pre-column derivatization with NPCA, a simultaneous determination of alpha-CA derivatives of neuroactive monoamines [dopamine (DA), epinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)], their monoamine oxidase metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid) and their catechol-O-methyltransferase metabolites [3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) and normetanephrine (NMN)] was completely achieved using our HPLC-EC method. Using an HPLC equipped with coulometric electrode-array detection system, the resultant alpha-CA derivatives of NMN, 5-HT, DA and 3-MT showed intense EC responses, that were approximately 1.3, 1.4, 1.1 and 1.4-fold higher than the corresponding native forms, respectively. The detection limits were in the range of approximately 16-60 fmol on column (signal-to-noise ratio 3). The proposed HPLC method was applied to determine 5-HIAA, HVA, alpha-CA-5-HT and alpha-CA-DA in rat urine. As a consequence, these analytes were successfully determined with satisfactory precisions.     

Evaluation of GSH adducts of adrenaline in biological samples

The sustained high release of catecholamines to circulation is a deleterious condition that may induce toxicity, which seems to be partially related to the products formed by oxidation of catecholamines that can be further conjugated with glutathione (GSH). The aim of the present study was to develop a method for the determination of GSH adducts of adrenaline in biological samples. Two position isomers of the glutathion-S-yl-adrenaline were synthesized and characterized by HPLC using diode array, coulometric and mass detectors. A method for the extraction of these adducts from human plasma was also developed, based on adsorption to activated alumina, which showed adequate recoveries and proved to be crucial in removing interferences from plasma. The selectivity, precision and linearity of the method were all within the accepted values for these parameters. Furthermore, the sensitivity of this method allows the detection of adduct amounts that are within the range of the expected concentrations for these adducts under certain pathophysiological conditions and/or drug treatments. In conclusion, the development of this method allows the direct analysis of GSH adducts of adrenaline in human plasma, providing a valuable tool for the study of the catecholamine oxidation process and its related toxicity.     

The GLC Separation of Hydroxyl-Substituted Amines of Biological Importance Including the Catecholamines. Preparation of Derivatives for Electron Capture Detection

Abstract

The catecholamines and related biological amines have been converted to trimethylsilyl ether-amide derivatives through a two-step reaction sequence. All hydroxyl groups (phenolic and alcohol) were converted to TMSi ethers by reaction with TSIM. N-acylimidazole was added to the reaction mixture to effect the acylation of primary and secondary amines. TMSi-Ac (trimethylsilyl ether-acetyl) and TMSi-HFB (trimethylsilyl ether-heptafluorobutyryl) derivatives were studied. The HFB derivatives had excellent GLC properties. It is proposed to compare the sensitivity of detection of these and related compounds by flame ionization and by electron capture detection systems.     

Synthesis and analysis of aminochromes by HPLC-photodiode array. Adrenochrome evaluation in rat blood

The catecholamine oxidation process induces cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Catecholamines can oxidize to aminochromes through autoxidation or by enzymatic or non-enzymatic catalysis. Although some toxic effects seem to be related to the formation of aminochromes there is still scarce information concerning the identification and evaluation of these compounds in in vivo models. In this study five catecholamines were oxidized to their respective aminochromes: adrenaline/adrenochrome; noradrenaline/noradrenochrome; dopa/dopachrome; dopamine/dopaminochrome; and isoproterenol/isoprenochrome. The evaluation of the catecholamines oxidation profile was performed by HPLC with photodiode array detection and using either enzymatic (tyrosinase) or non-enzymatic [Ag(2)O, CuSO(4), NaIO(4) and K(3)Fe(CN)(6)] catalytic systems. The NaIO(4) was found to be the most efficient oxidant of catecholamines. An isocratic reverse-phase HPLC method was developed to analyse each pair of catecholamine-aminochrome. The analytical system was then applied to the detection of adrenochrome in rat blood at 490 nm. Thus, adrenochrome was administered i.p. to rats and its concentration in whole blood was monitored after 5, 15 and 25 min. Blood treatment for adrenochrome evaluation consists of an acidification for protein precipitation followed by a rapid neutralization. The results showed a rapid decrease of adrenochrome concentration in blood after its administration. The adrenochrome present in blood was characterized by UV and tandem mass spectrometry.     

Vesicular exocytosis under hypotonic conditions shows two distinct populations of dense core vesicles in bovine chromaffin cells.

Several previous reports have discussed the effects of external osmolarity on vesicular exocytotic processes. However, few of these studies considered hypotonic conditions on chromaffin cells. Herein, the exocytosis of catecholamines by chromaffin cells was investigated in a medium of low osmolarity (200 mOsm) by amperometry at carbon fiber microelectrodes. It is observed that the frequency of the exocytotic events is significantly higher under hypotonic conditions than under physiological conditions (315 mOsm). This further confirms that the swelling of the polyelectrolytic matrix (which follows ionic exchanges) contained in dense core vesicles is the energetic driving force of the exocytotic phenomenon, being favored by a lower osmolarity. The mean amount of catecholamines released during secretory events also increases importantly under the hypotonic condition. This may be rationalized by the coexistence of two distinct populations of dense core vesicles with a relative content ratio of 4.7. The larger content population is favored under hypotonic conditions but plays only a side role under isotonic conditions.     

High Osmolarity and L‐DOPA Augment Release via the Fusion Pore in PC12 Cells

We have amperometrically measured dopamine release from rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells) in high osmolarity conditions with and without L ‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (L ‐DOPA) treatment. We observe an increase in the number of release events displaying a prespike feature or “foot” when the cells are stimulated in high osmolarity saline. We also see an increase in foot area and duration when cells are stimulated in high osmolarity saline, or high osmolarity saline subsequent to incubation with the dopamine precursor L ‐DOPA in isotonic saline, which serves to increase the vesicle size. The data suggest that membrane biophysics are an important component in defining the rate, duration and amount of neurotransmitter release via the fusion pore.     

An improved approach for the determination of plasma-free catecholamines by HPLC-ED: Application to normal and hypertensive patients

Summary A dual-step procedure for the rapid, quantitative isolation of free catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine) from plasma, using a little column of CM-Sephadex and alumina adsorption, is described. Sensitive high performance liquid chromatography is also discussed, employing an amperometric detector for the quantitative determination. The recovery of the three catecholamines, and of N-methyldopamine used as the internal standard, was about 70–80%; the detection limits were 2pg for norepinephrine, 3pg for epinephrine and 3pg for dopamine. The combination of the rather specific and easy to handle two-step sample clean-up procedure, the high resolving power of the chromatography and the high sensitivity of electrochemical detection provided a simple method for the determination of free catecholamines in plasma samples of normal and essential hypertensive subjects under different conditions (supine position for 45 min, standing for 5 and 10 min). It was found that a significant increase in epinephrine levels (P<0.01) occurred in hypertensive patients under the three conditions studied.     

Simultaneous monitoring of monoamines,amino acids,nucleotides and neuropeptides by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry and its application to neurosecretion in bovine chromaffin cells

The primary functions of adrenal medullary chromaffin cells are the synthesis and storage in their chromaffin vesicles of the catecholamines noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (AD), and their subsequent release into the bloodstream by Ca²⁺‐dependent exocytosis under conditions of fear or stress (fight or flight response). Several monoamines, nucleotides and opiates, such as leucine‐enkephalin (LENK) and methionine‐enkephalin (MENK), are also co‐stored and co‐released with the catecholamines. However, other neurotransmitters have not been studied in depth. Here, we present a novel high‐resolution liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry approach for the simultaneous monitoring of 14 compounds stored and released in bovine chromaffin cells (BCCs). We validated the analytical method according to the recommendations of the EMA and FDA by testing matrix effect, selectivity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, stability and carry‐over. After testing on six batches of BCCs from different cultures, the method enabled simultaneous quantitative determination of monoamines (AD, NA, dopamine, serotonin, 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid, histamine and metanephrine), amino acids (L‐glutamic acid, γ‐aminobutyric acid), nucleotides (adenosine 5′‐diphosphate, adenosine 5′‐monophosphate, cyclic adenosine 5′‐monophosphate) and neuropeptides (LENK and MENK) in the intracellular content, basal secretion and acetylcholine induced secretion of BBCs. The high‐resolution approach used here enabled us to determine the levels of 14 compounds in the same BCC batch in only 16 min. This novel approach will make it possible to study the regulatory mechanisms of Ca²⁺ signaling, exocytosis and endocytosis using different neurotrophic factors and/or secretagogues as stimuli in primary BCC cultures. Our method is actually being applied to human plasma samples of different therapeutic areas where sympathoadrenal axis is involved in stress situations such as Alzheimer's disease, migraine or cirrhosis, to improve diagnosis and clinical practice. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.