Very rapid and simple assay of taurine in the brain within two minutes by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

We describe a very rapid and simple method for the assay of taurine (Tau) in the brain tissue, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection in combination with precolumn o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) derivatization. The present method permits Tau assay within 2 min in one chromatographic run. Recovery for Tau was 107.4 +/- 1.3% (SD, n = 10). Within-run coefficients of variation were +/- 1.6% (n = 15). The limit of quantitative detection of the method was 0.1 pmol for Tau. The present method has been applied to the measurement of Tau levels in several discrete brain areas of the mouse.