Measurement of acetylcholine and choline in brain by HPLC with electrochemical detection

A simple and rapid method for measuring acetylcholine and choline using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection is presented. Acetylcholine and choline were first separated using reverse-phase chromatography; acetylcholine was then hydrolyzed post-column to choline by acetylcholinesterase. Choline was oxidized enzymatically by choline oxidase to betaine and hydrogen peroxide, and the peroxide was detected electrochemically. Changes in methodology from previous procedures include a different mobile phase, controlled heating of chromatography column and post-column reaction coil, and a different extraction method for quaternary amines. The changes resulted in less inhibition of derivatizing enzymes by mobile phase, narrow and consistent elution of peaks, and a rapid and efficient extraction of quaternary amines. Measurement of acetylcholine and choline in brain tissue was found to be replicable, and the levels agreed with literature values.