Summary
The histochemical fluorescence method of Falck and Hillarp for the demonstration of catecholamines and certain tryptamines, e.g. 5-hydroxytryptamine is based on the principle that these amines can be condensed with formaldehyde to yield strongly fluorescent 6,7-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and 6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-β-carbolines respectively. The investigation here reported presents the fluorescence characteristics and relative fluorescence yields for formaldehyde treated biogenic monoamines and certain related compounds enclosed in a dried protein layer. The fluorescence properties of some synthetic 6,7-substituted-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and 3,4-dihydro-β-carbolines are given, and the fluorescence characteristics in relation to the molecular structure are discussed.
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Abbreviations
- A:
-
adrenaline
- DA:
-
dopamine
- DOPA:
-
3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
- DOPS:
-
3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-serine
- 5-HT:
-
5-hydroxytryptamine
- 5-HTP:
-
5-hydroxytryptophan
- 5-MT:
-
5-methoxytryptamine
- α-m-DA:
-
α-methyl-dopamine
- α-m-DOPA:
-
α-methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
- α-m-NA:
-
α-methyl-noradrenahne
- MTA:
-
3-methoxy-tyramine
- NA:
-
noradrenaline
- NM:
-
normetanephrine
- T:
-
Tryptamine
- Try:
-
Tryptophan
References
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Jonsson, G. Fluorescence methods for the histochemical demonstration of monoamines. Histochemie 8, 288–296 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306092
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306092