An improved, HPLC with electrochemical detection method for the isocratic separation and determination of amino acids from post-mortem brain tissue and from microdialysates of awake-behaving animals is described. Optimal conditions that maximize stability, resolution, and sensitivity were determined for the pre-column derivatization of amino acids using o-phthalaldehyde and B-mercaptoethanol. Ten different amino acids including aspartate, glutamate, taurine, tyrosine and GABA were effectively resolved within 18 min. Tissue measurements from caudate, globus pallidus and substantia nigra showed regional variations in amino acid content. Microdialysis of the striatum yielded significant amounts of all amino acids examined, including GABA, from only 25 microliter of perfusate.