LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF MYOCARDIAL INTERSTITIAL EPINEPHRINE

This study describes a high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED) for monitoring of epinephrine (Epi) in the myocardial interstitial space. The in vitro detection li mit for Epi was 200 fg in a 50-mu l injection. Using a cardiac dialysi s technique, 60-mu l dialysates were sampled from the myocardial inter stitial space (6-min fractions). After an alumina procedure, the dialy sate Epi concentration was measured using the HPLC-ED system. Although the basal Epi concentration was undetectable, local administration of desipramine increased Epi concentration of the dialysate to 38.1 +/- 18.5 pg/ml. This system affords a new possibility for estimating myoca rdial interstitial Epi level. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.