Determination of tissue content of catecholamines in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): a comparison of HPLC-EC and the trihydroxyindol fluoremetric method.

1. The catecholamine (CA) content in tissues of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was determined by HPLC-electrochemical detection (EC) and the fluoremetric trihydroxyindol (THI) method after sorbent purification on phenyl boronic acid-bonded silica or aluminum oxide. 2. Bonded silica proved more efficient and reliable for CA purification than aluminum oxide. 3. The THI method was inadequate for determination of noradrenaline in samples low in CA and in samples rich in CA but predominated by adrenaline. 4. The CA content in the head kidney, the atrium, the ventricle and skeletal muscle measured by HPLC-EC was 15, 1.8, 1.1 and 0.1 nmol/g wet weight, respectively. 5. Adrenaline dominated in the head kidney (approximately 80%) while adrenaline and noradrenaline occurred in a ratio approximately 1:1 in both cardiac and skeletal muscle.