Abstract
Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on the determination of various indolealkylamines in the pineal gland. The biosynthesis of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) in the pineal gland is described along the pathway: 5-HT → N-acetylserotonin → melatonin. Indoles containing HO- or CH3O- substituents in the 5-position and a side chain of at least one carbon atom on the 3-position are heated with o-phthalaldehyde (OPT) in strong mineral acid, they react to yield highly fluorescent products. The fluorescent products formed by reaction of a variety of indolealkylamines with OPT are similar with activation maxima at 360 mμ and emission maxima at 470 mμ. The basic procedure for determination of 5-HT, 5-MT, N-acetylserotonin (NAS), and melatonin in pineal tissue is described in the chapter. The data indicate that 5-HT is present in considerable quantity NAS in somewhat lesser amounts, and 5-MT and melatonin are virtually undetectable. This procedure has also been applied to the determination of the various indolealkylamines in some areas of rat brain. The fluorescence of the reaction products formed from indolealkylamines and OPT is sufficient to permit the accurate measurement of 10–20 ng of 5-HT, 5-MT, NAS, and melatonin. The versatility of the OPT reaction permit its ready application to determination of various indolealkylamines in biological materials.
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