SENSITIVE METHOD FOR MEASURING TISSUE ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL AND ALPHA-TOCOPHERYLOXYBUTYRIC ACID BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH FLUOROMETRIC DETECTION

The monhydrolysable tocopherol ether analog, d-alpha-tocopheryloxybuty ric acid (TSE), and its tocopherol ester counterpart, d-alpha-tocopher yl hemisuccinate (TS), have been shown to possess anti-tumor activity. In the present study, a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatogra phy (HPLC) method using fluorometric detection is described for the si multaneous determination of TSE and alpha-T in biological specimens. M aximal sensitivity for the measurement of TSE and alpha-T was observed with the wavelengths, 210 nm excitation and 300 nm emission. Using an internal standard (I.S.) method, the amount of these tocopherol compo unds was determined in standards, liver homogenates isolated from rats administered TSE-tris salt or vehicle (saline) and in HL-60 human leu kaemia cells incubated with TSE-tris salt or saline. Treatment with TS E resulted in the significant accumulation of TSE, but no alpha-T in t he liver and HL-60 cells. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.