Premium
Analysis of chemical processes at single bovine adrenergic chromaffin cells with micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography and electrochemical detection
Author(s) -
Suljak Steven W.,
Swanek Franklin D.,
Gavin Peter F.,
Ewing Andrew G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of separation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.72
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1615-9314
pISSN - 1615-9306
DOI - 10.1002/jssc.200390016
Subject(s) - micellar electrokinetic chromatography , chemistry , dopamine , chromatography , catecholamine , epinephrine , chromaffin cell , norepinephrine , electrokinetic phenomena , capillary electrophoresis , adrenal medulla , endocrinology , biology
Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with electrochemical detection (MEKC‐EC) has been applied to the investigation of single cell systems. Separations of bovine adrenergic chromaffin cells reveal average contents of 33 ± 14 fmol of norepinephrine and 24 ± 11 fmol of epinephrine. The resolution benefits of MEKC‐EC have been more fully realized in the analysis of a complex mixture resulting when adrenal cells are incubated with the dopamine precursor, L‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐DOPA). Dopamine has been unambiguously identified in these cells, supporting the hypothesis that transport of dopamine into vesicles is a slow, rate‐limiting process. In addition, MEKC‐EC has been used to monitor the release of catecholamines from single adrenal cells when stimulated by nicotine. Low‐fmol quantities of norepinephrine and epinephrine have been detected in the extracellular environment following stimulation.