Distinguishing in vitro electrochemical signatures for norepinephrine and dopamine.

An electrochemical method for the qualitative detection of dopamine and norepinephrine in the presence of serotonin and other purported contaminants in vitro is described. The method uses semidifferential electrochemistry in conjunction with a stearate graphite paste electrode. A method to distinguish electrochemical signatures for specific catecholamines is particularly important because catecholamines are known to have similar oxidation potentials for electrochemical detection. The findings may bear relevance to the interpretation of electrochemical signals from discrete brain nuclei in vivo.