3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and homovanillic acid in human cerebrospinal fluid. Storage and measurement by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and coulometric detection using 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid as an internal standard.

To simultaneously measure 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), and homovanillic acid (HVA) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), we used an acetonitrile protein precipitation, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with coulometric detection, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid (MHPLA) as an internal standard for all three metabolites. MHPG, 5HIAA, HVA, and MHPLA were stable for one month when stored in CSF at -70 degrees C. Three determinations were made in triplicate for each of seven subjects over a 30-day storage period and the coefficients of variation within subject for these determinations ranged from 0.075 to 0.165 for MHPG, 0.045 to 0.148 for 5HIAA and 0.053 to 0.181 for HVA. Means and standard deviations of CSF concentrations were 10.7 +/- 3.0 ng/ml for MHPG, 22.4 +/- 9.9 ng/ml for 5HIAA, and 39.9 +/- 21.4 ng/ml for HVA. This method provides simple sample preparation, sensitivity, and cost advantages, as well as simultaneous extraction and quantitation of MHPG, 5HIAA, and HVA using an internal standard.