[Fluorometric determination of levarterenol, epinephrine and dopamine in the urine of rats with carrageenan edema and adjuvant arthritis].

After adsorption-chromatographic separation (using aluminium oxide) and chemical conversion to the corresponding trihydroxyindole derivatives, epinephrine, levarterenol and dopamine were determined fluorometrically in urine from rats. In case of carrageenin oedema, as well as during the secondary phase of adjuvant arthritis, the excretion of epinephrine and levarterenol was increased as compared to that in control animals. This difference was statistically significant. These findings can possibly be connected with an inhibitory activity of the catecholamines in inflammatory processes; as to dopamine, it seems to be of minor importance.