Rapid micromethod for flourometric determination of neutral lipids on thin-layer chromatograms

Abstract
A rapid fluorometric procedure for in situ evaluation of neutral lipids on TLC is described. The lipids are rendered fluorescent by treatment with perchloric acid and intensity of emitted light is recorded by flying spot scanning. Detection limits (2.8 .times. SD) are 0.10, 0.11 and 0.17 nmol for triglycerides, cholesterol and cholesterol esters, respectively. Range of linearity is 0-3.4 nmol for triglycerides, 0-2.0 nmol for cholesterol and 0-4.0 nmol for cholesterol esters. When standard in triplicate and 2 samples of each unknown are applied to the chromatogram, standard error of the mean is 2.7% for triglycerides, 1.7% for cholesterol and 1.0% for cholesterol esters. Sensitivity of the method allows simultaneous determination of the 3 lipid classes in 5 .mu.l lipid extract representing 0.238 .mu.l human plasma.