Screening for organic acids in fish tissues with special reference to the distribution of taurine inRutilus rutilus L.

A liquid chromatographic method for rapid profiling of some organic acids and other compounds of physiological interest in fish tissues is presented. The method provides the detection of α-ketoglutaric, malic and pyruvic acid and is optimized for the quantitation of citric, phosphoric, succinic, lactic and fumaric acids, as well as glucose and especially taurine. These substances were separated in a single analytical run on a cation exchange column with dilute sulfuric acid as the elutant. The effluent was monitored by a refractive index or an UV detector at 208 nm wavelength. Resolution was satisfactory. No further treatment was found to be necessary when samples were deproteinized with perchloric acid. Taurine (2-aminoethansulfonic acid), not previously described in the roach (Rutilus rutilus L.), occurs in considerable amounts in red and white muscle and heart tissue. However, it is also present in all other tissues.