Synthesis and analysis of aminochromes by HPLC-photodiode array. Adrenochrome evaluation in rat blood

The catecholamine oxidation process induces cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Catecholamines can oxidize to aminochromes through autoxidation or by enzymatic or non‐enzymatic catalysis. Although some toxic effects seem to be related to the formation of aminochromes there is still scarce information...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biomedical chromatography 2003-01, Vol.17 (1), p.6-13
Main Authors: Remião, Fernando, Milhazes, Nuno, Borges, Fernanda, Carvalho, Félix, Bastos, Maria L., Lemos-Amado, Francisco, Domingues, Pedro, Ferrer-Correia, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
catecholamines oxidation
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods
enzymatic oxidation
Indolequinones
Indoles - blood
Indoles - chemical synthesis
Male
non-enzymatic oxidation
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
tyrosinase
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Summary:The catecholamine oxidation process induces cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Catecholamines can oxidize to aminochromes through autoxidation or by enzymatic or non‐enzymatic catalysis. Although some toxic effects seem to be related to the formation of aminochromes there is still scarce information concerning the identification and evaluation of these compounds in in vivo models. In this study five catecholamines were oxidized to their respective aminochromes: adrenaline/adrenochrome; noradrenaline/noradrenochrome; dopa/dopachrome; dopamine/dopaminochrome; and isoproterenol/isoprenochrome. The evaluation of the catecholamines oxidation profile was performed by HPLC with photodiode array detection and using either enzymatic (tyrosinase) or non‐enzymatic [Ag2O, CuSO4, NaIO4 and K3Fe(CN)6] catalytic systems. The NaIO4 was found to be the most efficient oxidant of catecholamines. An isocratic reverse‐phase HPLC method was developed to analyse each pair of catecholamine–aminochrome. The analytical system was then applied to the detection of adrenochrome in rat blood at 490 nm. Thus, adrenochrome was administered i.p. to rats and its concentration in whole blood was monitored after 5, 15 and 25 min. Blood treatment for adrenochrome evaluation consists of an acidification for protein precipitation followed by a rapid neutralization. The results showed a rapid decrease of adrenochrome concentration in blood after its administration. The adrenochrome present in blood was characterized by UV and tandem mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0269-3879
1099-0801
DOI:10.1002/bmc.203