ANALYSIS OF HEMOLYMPH ECDYSTEROIDS IN THE CRAYFISH PROCAMBARUS-CLARKII BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

Five ecdysteroids (ecdysone, 3-epiecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, 3-epi- 20-hydroxyecdysone, and 3-dehydrocedysone) were completely separated b y micellar electrokinetic chromatography on a fused-silica capillary ( 50 mum x 50 cm effective length) with 100 mM borate buffer, pH 8.9, co ntaining 100 mm sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 15 mM gamma-cyclodext rin (CD). Addition of gamma-CD to SDS micellar solution improved the r esolution and allowed analysis within 10 min. The limit of ultraviolet detection was below 50 fmol, as determined by injected amounts of the authentic compounds. This method was applied to the analysis of ecdys teroids in the hemolymph of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii, in which physiological change was induced by eyestalk removal.