Electrochemical detector and software upgrade for existing HPLC

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The three applicants work in well-defined niches yet a common theme that links our research is the adaptation of fish to environmental stressors and the mechanisms underlying perception of a changing environment (chemoreception). As such, our research requires the determination of the circulating or secreted levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine (collectively termed catecholamines; CAT) or serotonin. Several techniques can be used to measure biogenic amines in biological tissues although HPLC in conjunction with electrochemical (EC) detection is arguably the most cost-effective and sensitive method that is currently available. This technique is used routinely in Perry's lab and serves the analytical requirements of all three applicants. The current EC detector (Princeton Applied Research) was donated as part of an integrated HPLC system to the Biology Department in 1992 by Varian Canada upon the opening of a new Science building. Over the past 16 years, the HPLC and EC detector have likely been the most heavily used instruments in the lab of the principal investigator with over 50,000 samples being processed and analyzed for CATs. The HPLC pump, auto-sampler and data acquisition software were upgraded in 2001 (NSERC RTI to Perry) but to save costs, the EC detector was not replaced. Princeton Applied Research no longer manufactures an EC detector nor do they service previously sold models as they are obsolete. Thus, over the past three years, the HPLC has been unusable for extended periods while troubleshooting EC detector problems. An unpredictable EC detector has seriously impacted our ability to train HQP and has led to delays in research progress. This proposal aims to remedy this situation by requesting funds to purchase a an EC detector and software to be used with the existing HPLC.