CHED 199 |
| Neurotransmitters play important and diverse roles in mood and behavior regulation. We are interested in improving methodologies to determine the concentrations of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine metabolites in blood. 3,4-dihydroxy phenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxy-3-indole acetic acid (5-HIAA), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol hemipiperazinium salt (MHPG) are found in blood and are metabolites of dopamine, serotonin, and epinephrine, respectively. Our goal is to find a highly-sensitive, reproducible method for quantitating metabolite concentrations in whole blood samples. Our initial studies have focused on trying to implement published procedures and use various metabolite standards in conjunction with HPLC to determine the best approach for quantitating neurotransmitters. We have begun to use HPLC with flourometric and amperometric detection in order to monitor metabolite concentrations. This same method will eventually be used to simultaneously quantitate the metabolite concentrations of blood samples in our laboratory. |
|
Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Analytical Chemistry
2:30 PM-4:30 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |