DETERMINATION OF BIOGENIC-AMINES AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS IN THE GANGLIAAND THE AURICLE AND VENTRICLE OF THE HEART OF THE SNAIL HELIX-LUCORUML BY HPLC WITH AMPEROMETRIC DETECTION

Biogenic amines and related compounds in the suboesophageal ganglia an d the auricle and ventricle of the heart of the snail Helix lucorum L. have been identified and quantified using the technique of reversed p hase ion-pair HPLC with amperometric detection. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of two catecholamines, Dopamine (DA) and Norepinephrine (NE), one indoleamine, Serotonin (5HT), its immediate precursor 5-Hydr oxytryptophan (5HTP) and their metabolites 3,4-Dihydroxy phenylacetic acid (DOPAC)and 5-Hydroxindole-3-acetic acid (5HIAA). Quantitatively, DA and SI-FT were the most prominent monoamines detected, with the gan glia containing the highest concentrations of both. The ganglia contai ned also assayable amounts of NE and DOPAC.