Résumé : The use of on-line fluorescence detection after high-performance liquid chromatographic separation permits the direct quantitative analysis of the reaction mixture of enzymes with low activity. The application to the determination of tryptophan-hydroxylase in vitro as well as in vivo is described. The whole system has a detection limit of 0.1 μg 5-hydroxytryptophan formed/hour/gram of brains. © 1982 Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH.