Regional rat brain levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid: concurrent fluorometric measurement and influence of drugs.

A concurrent semi-automatic fluorometric assay technique for 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), is described. The method is based on a rapid manually performed isolation of DOPAC and HVA on small columns of Sephadex G-10 followed by an automated fluorometric detection with a continuous flow system. DOPAC and HVA were measured in the corpus striatum, nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle of the rat, under normal conditions and after treatment with amphetamine, apomorphine, clozapine, haloperidol, morphine, oxotremorine, pargyline, probenecid, sulpiride and thioridazine. Clozapine, morphine, sulpiride and oxotremorine induced the most pronounced rise of DA metabolites in the nucleus accumbens. Probenecid produced a DOPAC accumulation in the nucleus accumbens. Striking differences were observed between the DOPAC/HVA ratios in the different structures of control animals. The concurrent assay enables a rapid screening of the action of drugs in regional DA metabolism.