RAPID AND SIMPLE METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF NITRITE IN SYNAPTOSOMAL SUPERFUSATES BY LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION

A rapid and simple technique using reversed-phase high-performance liq uid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED) was develo ped for the determination of nitrite. Standard solutions of sodium nit rite produced a linear current response over the concentration range 1 .5-30 muM. The chromatographic peaks of sodium nitrite were superimpos able with peaks obtained after injection into the chromatograph of sup ernatants from rat cerebellar synaptosomes. The concentrations of nitr ite in synaptosomes measured with HPLC-ED were similar to those found with a widely used colorimetric procedure. Therefore, this new method may represent a useful means of measuring nitrite in biological sample s.