Analysis of dansyl derivatives of di- and polyamines in mouse brain, human serum and duodenal biopsy specimens by high-performance liquid chromatography on a standard reversed-phase column

The concentrations of putrescine, spermine and spermidine were measured in human serum, children's duodenal biopsy specimens and mouse brain homogenates by high-performance liquid chromatography. The chromatographic analysis was performed on dansyl derivatives of the polyamines using a reverse-phase system with an ion-pairing retention mechanism (heptane sulphonate). Capacity factors were determined at different concentrations of acetonitrile. Simple linear gradients were set up for fast (15 min) or routine (25 min) analysis. Three fluorescence detectors were compared for these determinations and their detection limits determined. The minimum detectable amount of polyamines was 25 fmol compared to 500 fmol with standard detectors. While samples prepared from tissues did not require a high sensitivity, a detector of better performance was needed to assay the polyamines in human serum.