Abstract
Trace amines including arylalkylamines, phenylethylamine, tyramine, tryptamine, octopamine, phenylethanolamine, and synephrine are present in the nervous system at very minute concentrations as compared to the classic neurotransmitter amines such as noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin. These amines are heterogeneously distributed throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and play important roles in neurotransmission and neuromodulation. During the last decade, there has been a resurgence of interest in trace amines after the discovery of a unique family of G-protein-coupled receptors which are selectively activated by trace amines and termed as trace amine-associated receptors. Determination of trace amines in brain is crucially important to better understand their role in neuropsychiatric disorders. Owing to the low absolute concentrations of trace amines, it is difficult to accurately measure their concentrations in nervous tissue. However, the recent advents in chromatographic science and mass spectrometric detection have made it possible to precisely measure the levels of trace amines in discrete regions of the brain. This chapter provides an in-depth review of various methods for the estimation of trace amines in mammalian brain.
Published Version
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