Separation of polyamines in rat tissues by capillary electrophoresis

Free polyamines in rat tissues were determined by high performance capillary electrophoresis using fluorescence detection. After precipitation of proteins with perchloric acid, the sample solution was derivatized with fluorescamine using a microscale procedure. Ethylenediamine was added to the medium to avoid adsorption of polyamines onto the capillary wall. An internal standard of 6-amino-n-caproic acid a was used. To improve detector sensitivity, the fluorescence signal was collected with a cylindrical lens. The minimum detectable amount and concentration of the sample for the present method were around 200 fmol and 10 nmol mL−1, respectively.