Combined Gas ChromatographyMass Spectrometry in the Analysis of Biogenic Amines in Humans

The so-called trace amines or noncatecholic biogenic amines have recently attracted a considerable amount of attention among neuropharmacologists and psychiatrists. Some of these amines, e.g., phenylethylamine (PEA) and tyramme, are suspected to play some yet undetermined role in the etiology of schizophrenia (Sandler and Reynolds, 1976 ; Karoum et al., 1980 ) and depression (Karoum et al , 1982 ) The behavioral effects of these amines, although not clearly understood, are believed to result from their ability to interact with central putative neurotransmitter systems For this reason, studies related to these amines are best conducted in conjunction with biogenic amines such as catecholamines and serotonin This strategy is partircularly important in the clinical investigation of the role of biogenic amines in mental illnesses.