Determination of acetylcholine and choline in rat brain tissue by FIA with immobilized enzymes and chemiluminescence detection

A simple, rapid. economical anti sensitive method for the determination of acetylcholine and choline in neuronal tissue using a FIA system with immobilized enzyme and chemiluminescence detection is presented. The analytes were injected into a continuous stream of a simple medium flowing through a sequence of enzyme reactors containing acetylcholinesterase and choline oxidase. The generated hydrogen peroxide was continuously monitored by a homemade chemiluminescence detector. The linear determination ranges were from 1 pmol to 1 nmol of acetylcholine and 1 pmol to 10 nmol of choline. The limits of sensitivity uf the procedure were 600 fmol of acetylcholine and 500 fmol of choline. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.