Negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometric structural characterization of leukotriene B4 (LTB 4) and LTB 4-derived metabolites.

The low energy collision induced dissociation (CID) of the carboxylate anions generated by electrospray ionization of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and 16 of its metabolites was studied in a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer. LTB4 is a biologically active lipid mediator whose activity is terminated by metabolism into a wide variety of structural variants. The collision-induced dissociation spectra of the carboxylate anions revealed structurally informative ions whose formation was determined by the position of hydroxyl substituents and double bonds present in the LTB4 metabolite. Major ions resulted from charge remote α-hydroxy fragmentation or charge directed α-hydroxy fragmentation. The conjugated triene moiety present in some metabolites was proposed to undergo cyclization to a 1,3-cyclohexadiene structure prior to charge remote or charge driven a-hydroxy fragmentation. The mechanisms responsible for all major ions observed in the CID spectra were studied using stable isotope labeled analogs of the LTB4 metabolites. In general, the collision-induced decomposition of carboxylate anions produced unique spectra for all LTB4 derived metabolites. The observed decomposition product ions from the carboxylate anion could be useful in developing assays for these molecules in biological fluids.

Electrospray ionization and low energy tandem mass spectrometry of polyhydroxy unsaturated fatty acids.

Negative ion electrospray ionization, fast-atom bombardment, and low energy tandem mass spectrometry were used for the analysis of dihydroxy-eicosatrienoic acids, which contain a vicinol diol and three nonconjugated double bonds, dihydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids, which contain a conjugated triene structure, and trihydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids, which contain a vicinol diol and a conjugated tetraene structure. In general, the product ion spectra were qualitatively similar for both modes of ionization, but electrospray ionization was strikingly more efficient in generation of abundant carboxylate anions that could be collisionally activated to yield product ion spectra. Collision-induced dissociation fragmentation mechanisms were described generally by α-hydroxy fragmentations directed by relative positions of double bonds and were consistent with stable isotope labeling studies. Rearrangement of the conjugated triene system in dihydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids may be described by formation of a cyclohexadiene structure. Fragmentations that involve a two-proton transfer were described best by intramolecular oxidation of a hydroxy substituent to an enolate that resulted in an extended conjugated system. Collision-induced dissociation spectra obtained for the polyhydroxy unsaturated fatty acids, which are isobaric within each class, were uniquely descriptive of individual structures.

Analysis of hydroxy fatty acids as pentafluorobenzyl ester, trimethylsilyl ether derivatives by electron ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Electron ionization (EI) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of pentafluorobenzyl ester-trimethyl sllyl ether (PFB-TMS) derivatives of hydroxy-subshtuted fatty acids provides structural information comparable to that obtained in analysis of methyl ester-trimethyl silyl ether (Me-TMS) derivatives. Use of this derivative eliminates the need to prepare two separate derivatives, the PFB-TMS derivative for molecular weight determination by electron capture ionization (negative ions) analysis and the Me-TMS derivative for structural determination by EI GC/MS analysis. The relative abundance of fragment ions observed during EI GC/MS analysis of these derivatized unsaturated fatty acids indicates the location of the -OTMS substituents relative to double bond positions in those cases studied. The most abundant fragment ions are observed when the compound contains an unsaturation two carbon atoms removed from the -OTMS ether carbon (the ß-OTMS position). The "saddle effect" observed in the GC/MS analyses of some derivatized monohy- droxy unsaturated fatty acids is suggested to be due to a thermally allowed pericyclic double bond rearrangement and indicates the presence of a conjugated diene one carbon atom removed from the -OTMS ether carbon (the α-OTMS position). The saddle effect is most prominent for fatty acids that contain additional unsaturation separated by a single methylene unit from the conjugated diene moiety.

Analysis of long-chain fatty acyl coenzyme a thioesters by negative ion fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry.

Long-chain acyl Coenzyme A (CoA) is essentially composed of three major chemical groups, fatty acyl-, phosphopantetheino-, and 3', 5',-adenosine diphospho-moieties. The negative ion fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry spectra of long-chain acyl CoA thioesters were characterized by the formation of abundant [M - H](-) and two distinct classes of fragment ions, one class which retained the acyl group and another class which is related to CoA that contains the phosphopantethene and adenine. The ions which retained the acyl group in the spectrum of palmitoyl CoA appeared at m/z 675, 657, 595, and 577 and were found to decompose by loss of alkylketene observed at m/z 357 and 339. Those ions which retained the adenine group were observed at m/z 426 and 408. In contrast to these ions observed following fast-atom bombardment ionization, tandem mass spectrometry of the [M - H](-), from palmitoyl CoA (m/z 1004), yielded the adenine-containing ions as major products and the acyl-containing ions were of low abundance or not detected. These results suggested that the formation of many characteristic ions observed in direct FAB analysis occurred during the desorption process. The unique relationship between ions which involved the transition from acyl-containing ions to only CoA-containing ions by the loss of alkylketene allowed the development of tandem mass spectrometry protocols for the analysis of acyl CoA mixtures. Precursor scans of either m/z 357 or 339 yielded the identification of each species in a complex mixture. Identification of specific species was obtained with a neutral loss scan of the mass for a specific alkylketene.

Metabolism of leukotriene B4 by cultured human keratinocytes. Formation of glutathione conjugates and dihydro metabolites.

Six previously unidentified leukotriene (LT) B4 metabolites formed during incubation of LTB4 with human keratinocytes in primary culture indicate the importance of the 12-hydroxyeicosanoid dehydrogenase pathway in LTB4 metabolism. The ultraviolet absorption spectra obtained for all keratinocyte metabolites revealed the presence of a conjugated diene structural moiety rather than the conjugated triene structure of LTB4. Metabolites were characterized using fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the pentafluorobenzyl ester, trimethylsilyl ether derivatives and specific degradation reactions. The previously identified 10,11-dihydro-LTB4 and 10,11-dihydro-12-epi-LTB4 were observed as well as 20-OH-10,11-dihydro-LTB4, consistent with the reductase pathway of LTB4 metabolism. This pathway involves initial formation of 12-oxo-LTB4 catalyzed by 12-hydroxyeicosanoid dehydrogenase followed by reduction by delta 10-reductase. The most lipophilic metabolite of LTB4 was identified as 10-hydroxy-4,6,12-octadecatrienoic acid which could result from beta-oxidation reactions of LTB4 following reduction of the 10,11-double bond. One of the most abundant metabolites was characterized as 3,7,14-trihydroxy-8,10,16- docosatrienoic acid which could result from fatty acid elongation following reduction of the 10,11-double bond. Additional abundant LTB4 metabolites were identified that result from glutathione conjugation of 12-oxo-LTB4. These were characterized using fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry and by chemical degradation using hypochlorous acid as well as transpeptidases. These metabolites were identified as 5,12-dihydroxy-6-glutathionyl-7,9,14-eicosatrienoic acid (c-LTB3), 5,12-dihydroxy-6-cysteinyl-glycyl-7,9,14-eicosatrienoic acid (d-LTB3) and 5,12-dihydroxy-6-cysteinyl-7,9,14-eicosatrienoic acid (e-LTB3). We propose that these metabolites result from a 1,8 Michael-type addition of glutathione to the 12-oxo-LTB4 intermediate.

Low-energy fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry of monohydroxy substituted unsaturated fatty acids.

The low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the carboxylate anions generated by fast atom bombardment ionization of monohydroxy unsaturated fatty acids derived from oleic, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids were studied in a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer. The collisional activation spectra revealed structurally informative ions as to the position of the hydroxyl substituent in relationship to the sites of unsaturation. Five mechanisms are proposed for the fragmentation of hydroxyl substituted unsaturated fatty acids and are dependent upon the presence of alpha- or beta-unsaturation sites. These mechanisms include charge-remote allylic fragmentation, charge-remote vinylic fragmentation, charge-driven allylic fragmentation, charge-driven vinylic fragmentation, and homolytic fragmentation by an oxy-Cope rearrangement process. The assignment of specific fragmentation pathways was supported in many instances with deuterium-labeled analogs. Although no single fragmentation mechanism appears to predominate, a rational approach to the interpretation of these CID spectra is proposed. The CID spectra of unknown compounds could be used to establish the hydroxyl substituent position in relationship to certain sites of unsaturation but would not be indicative of all double bond locations. The oxy-Cope rearrangement is specific for a structural unit, namely the 3-hydroxy-1,5-diene moiety.

Collision-induced dissociation of carboxylate anions from derivatized 5-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid.

The low-energy collision-induced dissociations (CID) of carboxylate anions derived from pentafluorobenzyl ester, trimethylsilyl ether derivatives of four arachidonic acid metabolites of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway have been determined. These molecules include leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a potent chemotactic factor for the human neutrophil; 20-carboxy-LTB4, an inactive metabolite; 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), a useful marker of 5-lipoxygenase activity within cells; and 5-hydroxyeicosanoic acid (5-HEA), which has been previously used for the quantitation of leukotriene E4. The carboxylate anion of 5-HEA (m/z 399) was found to decompose by the loss of trimethylsilanol as well as the loss of 146 u corresponding to the loss of trimethylsilanol followed by acrolein, a process specific for 5-hydroxy-containing saturated fatty acids. The loss of trimethylsilanol by a remote site mechanism is the major transition observed for the 5-HETE carboxylate anion (m/z 391). The ion formed (m/z 301) further decomposes by the loss of CO2 (m/z 257). The loss of trimethylsilanol is also seen at m/z 389 after collisional activation of the carboxylate anion of LTB4 (m/z 479) by a complex charge-driven mechanism, not the remote site fragmentation mechanism as expected. The loss of an olefinic proton possibly from carbon-7 is involved as well as an oxygen atom derived from the carboxylic acid moiety. The loss of two trimethylsilanol neutral molecules gives rise to ions seen at m/z 299. Isotopic labeling studies revealed that two isobaric ions are present at m/z 299. Both of these ions involve the loss of trimethylsilanol from the carbon-12 position according to remote site mechanisms, but only one has lost the olefinic proton at carbon-7 and, therefore, likely originates from the further decomposition of the ion (m/z 389) described above. An additional ion seen at m/z 317 is attributed to the loss of trimethylsilyl ether (TMS-O-TMS) following a charge-driven mechanism involving the oxygen atom at carbon-12. The 20-carboxy-LTB4 carboxylate anion (m/z 689) decomposes primarily through the loss of one and two trimethylsilanol moieties, but the base peak (m/z 491) is due to the loss of pentafluorobenzyl alcohol. This ion, likely a ketene, further gives rise to three ions by the sequential loss of one and two trimethylsilanols and TMS-O-TMS. All collision-induced decompositions of the carboxylate anions of these eicosanoids are characterized by losses of small neutral molecules from the derivatizing groups (TMS and pentafluorobenzyl) and little fragmentation of the carbon backbone.

Low-energy tandem mass spectrometry of the molecular ion derived from fatty acid methyl esters: A novel method for analysis of branched-chain fatty acids.

Low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the molecular ions of fatty acid methyl esters obtained by electron ionization (70 eV) decompose in the tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer to yield a regular homologous series of carbomethoxy ions. Even at energies up to 200 eV (E lab), primarily carbomethoxy ions are present, with the most abundant found at m/z 101 at hi her energies. The lack of any other CID ions, including m/z 74 (McLafferty rearrangement) or m/z 87, suggest a rearranged molecular ion structure on leaving the first quadrupole mass analyzer. Analyses of various stable isotope variants support the hypothesis of alkyl radical migration to the carboxy carbonyl oxygen atom, with subsequent radical site directed cleavage either with or without a cyclization event. Decomposition of the molecular ions (70 eV) of several methyl branched fatty acid methyl esters, including phytanic acid, iso-methyl and anteiso-methyl branched acids, and tuberculostearic acid, reveals enhanced radical site cleavage at the alkyl branching positions. This method can be used to readily determine methyl (or alkyl) branching positions in a saturated fatty acid methyl ester.

General anesthetics potentiate gamma-aminobutyric acid actions on gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptors expressed by Xenopus oocytes: lack of involvement of intracellular calcium.

Potentiation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor-gated Cl- channel response has been suggested to be a primary action of some anesthetic agents. We asked whether the GABAA receptor is a target site common for general anesthetics that are chemically and structurally diverse. This hypothesis was tested in Xenopus oocytes expressing mouse cortical mRNA, and GABA-activated Cl- currents were measured using two-electrode voltage clamping. General anesthetics, including inhalational (halothane, diethylether, enflurane and isoflurane), i.v. (3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, ketamine and propofol) and alcohol (pentanol) anesthetics, enhanced GABA-induced currents by 56 to 1089% at concentrations that were clinically relevant. The results suggest that potentiation of the GABAA receptor/channel response may be a common action for anesthetic agents. Moreover, anesthetic effects were dependent on GABA concentrations; the enhancement was marked with low GABA concentrations and was exponentially decreased as the GABA concentration increased. Also, anesthetic effects were dependent on anesthetic concentrations. The apparent EC50 of halothane was found to be similar to the anesthetic ED50. We also investigated the role of intracellular Ca++ in mediating anesthetic enhancement of the GABA current. We found that intracellular injection of the Ca++ chelator, EGTA, did not change the enhancement by anesthetics. In addition, these anesthetics alone did not produce significant currents, suggesting that the Ca(++)-dependent Cl- current was not activated by these anesthetics per se. Thus, we found that diverse anesthetics potentiate GABA-induced Cl- currents, but this action is not mediated by a release of intracellular Ca++.

Analysis of glycerophosphocholine molecular species as derivatives of 7-[(chlorocarbonyl)-methoxy]-4-methylcoumarin.

A method has been developed for the analysis of derivatized diradylglycerols obtained from glycerophosphocholine (GPC) of transformed murine bone marrow-derived mast cells that provided high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation of GPC subclasses and molecular species separation with on-line quantitation using UV detection. In addition, the derivatized diradylglycerol species were unequivocably identified by continuous flow fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry. GPC was initially isolated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), the phosphocholine group was hydrolyzed, and the resultant diradylglycerol was derivatized with 7-[(chlorocarbonyl)-methoxy]-4-methylcoumarin (CMMC). After separation of the derivatized subclasses by normal phase HPLC, the individual molecular species of the alkylacyl and diacyl subclasses were quantitated and collected during a subsequent reverse phase HPLC step. With an extinction coefficient of 14,700 l mol-1 cm-1 at a wavelength detection of 320 nm, the CMMC derivatives afforded sensitive UV detection (100 pmol) and quantitation of the molecular species. Continuous flow fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry of the alkylacyl CMMC derivatives yielded abundant [MH]+ ions and a single fragment ion formed by loss of alkylketene from the sn-2 acyl group, [MH-(R = C = O)]+. No fragmentation of the sn-1 alkyl chain was observed. Diacyl derivatives also produced abundant [MH]+ ions plus two fragment ions arising from loss of RCOOH from each of the acyl substituents and two fragment ions from the loss of alkyketene from each acyl group. Individual molecular species substituents were assigned from these ions.

Stereospecific gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric assay of the chiral labetalol metabolite 3-amino-1-phenylbutane.

We previously identified 3-amino-1-phenylbutane (APB) as an oxidative N-dealkylated, metabolite of the antihypertensive agent labetalol. Labetalol has two asymmetric centers and is used clinically as a mixture of the four possible stereoisomers; APB has one asymmetric center. We now report an enantiospecific gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric assay for APB in urine. After adding the internal standard 1-methyl-2-phenoxyethylamine and alkalinizing, the urine samples were extracted with ether. The extracts were derivatized with the optically active acid chloride prepared from (S)-alpha-methoxy-alpha-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid. The derivatives were separated by capillary gas chromatography and detected by electron capture negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. The derivative of the R enantiomer eluted first, and the [M--32]- ions were monitored for both the drug and the internal standard. The method was linear in the 0.05-2.5 micrograms enantiomer-1 ml-1 range and had inter-assay and intra-assay coefficients of variation of less than 6%. The assay was used in the analysis of urine samples from a patient in labetalol therapy and no interference was found. Further studies are needed to elucidate the oxidative metabolism of labetalol and its stereochemical aspects.

Tandem mass spectrometry of negative ions from choline phospholipid molecular species related to platelet activating factor.

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of choline phospholipids produces negative ions characteristic of the intact molecule and tandem mass spectrometry of collision-induced decomposition of M-15 anions characterizes both the identity and substituent position of radyl groups. Certain choline phospholipid molecular species which may be of special interest in the generation of platelet activating factor contain a highly unsaturated fatty acyl substituent at sn-2 and an ether radyl group at sn-1; other choline phospholipid molecular species which contain esterified arachidonic acid are of interest as potential sources of arachidonate for eicosanoid biosynthesis. Collisional activated decomposition of 1-hexadecanoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine produce abundant carboxylate anions at m/z 303 (arachidonate) and m/z 255 (hexadecanoate) in a ratio of 3:1, diagnostic for the sn-2 arachidonoyl position. The ether analog, 1-O-hexadecyl-2-arachidonoyl glycerophosphocholine, produces only one collision-induced dissociation ion at m/z 303 and no product ions corresponding to the ether substituent at sn-1. Molecular weight information from the M-15 ion combined with the CID generated carboxylate anions completely characterize these important phospholipids. Precursor ion studies of M-15 anions from glycero-phosphocholine lipids indicate that this ion is derived directly from a unique adduct ion formed by attachment of the molecular species to a matrix alkoxide ion, neutralizing the positive charge of the quaternary choline nitrogen. Decomposition of this adduct ion yields a methylated matrix molecule and the nominal M-15 ion.

Metabolism of 12(R)-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12(R)-HETE) in corneal tissues: formation of novel metabolites.

12(R)-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid [12(R)-HETE], a cytochrome P450 arachidonate metabolite, is metabolized by corneal tissues via three distinct metabolic pathways: beta-oxidation, omega-hydroxylation, and keto-reduction. The major metabolite released from the intact rabbit corneal epithelium or cultured cells was identified by mass spectrometric analysis as 8-hydroxy-4,6,10-hexadecatrienoic acid, the tetranor metabolite derived following two steps of beta-oxidation from the carboxy terminus. The beta-oxidation pathway was expressed in both microsomes and mitochondria isolated from bovine corneal epithelium and was dependent on the addition of oxidizing equivalents. The major metabolite of 12(R)-HETE in subcellular fractions of bovine corneal epithelial cells was a dihydro compound, 12-hydroxy-5,8,14-eicosatrienoic acid (12-HETrE). This derivative is presumably formed by an oxidation of the hydroxyl group followed by two keto-reduction steps, since its formation was accompanied by the appearance of a keto metabolite identified as 12-oxo-5,8,14-eicosatrienoic acid. The omega-hydroxylation, in contrast to other cell types, was a minor route for 12(R)-HETE metabolism in these tissues. Since 12(R)-HETE has been implicated as a modulator of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and its related functions in ocular tissues, these findings raise the possibility that the newly described metabolites may be involved in regulating corneal functions. In addition, the presence of a keto reductase in the cornea may be of great importance following injury since 12(R)-HETrE resulting from 12(R)-HETE by this activity is a potent ocular proinflammatory compound.

Negative ion tandem mass spectrometry of leukotriene E4, and LTE 4, metabolites: Identification of LTE 4, in human urine.

The sulfidopeptide leukotrienes, leukotriene E4, (LTE4,) and its N-acetyl derivative and several ω- and ß-oxidized metabolites of LTE4, have been analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. [M-H](-) ions were produced by continuous flow fast atom bombardment, and collision-induced dissociation of these ions was studied by using a triple quadrupole instrument. The product ion spectra obtained were characteristic of the structure of LTE4, and mechanisms of ion formation were investigated by using deuterated compounds. ß-Elimination of the peptide portion of LTE4, by loss of CO2, and ethylene amine leaves the C-l carboxyl group ionized in the most abundant fragment ion for LTE4, and all metabolites. Tandem mass spectrometry of fast atom bombardment-generated anions from ω- and ß-oxidized metabolites of LTE4, produced similar ions with only a minor influence of the third carboxyl group at the omega terminus evident. Tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify unequivocally the presence of unmodified LTE4, in a high performance liquid chromatography-purified fraction of urine from a normal healthy volunteer after infusion with LTE4.

Fast atom bombardment and collision-induced dissociation of prostaglandins and thromboxanes: Some examples of charge remote fragmentation.

The mass spectra of products found by collisional activation of selected prostaglandins and thromboxanes were studied by tandem mass spectrometry as barium carboxylate salts and as carboxylate anions. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of these closed shell ions generated by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry reveals a wealth of structural information for these hydroxy acids. Decomposition reactions were found to be dependent upon the eicosanoid ring structure and the type of ion being studied, either positive or negative ion. The bariated carboxylate salts undergo reactions by processes that are similar to those previously characterized as charge remote mechanisms in which neutral species are lost as in thermal and photolytic decompositions. The most abundant ion is formed by loss of water from each of the hydroxyl groups present on the prostaglandin or thromboxane structure. For these multifunctionalized eicosanoids, typical patterns of decomposition emerge as characteristic of the oxygen substituents present along the carbon chain of the eicosanoid structure. The structural information obtained from the barium salts along with those from the carboxylate anions is substantially different, yet the structural information from each process is complementary. The CIDs of positive ions (metalated salts) provide structural information concerning the substituents between the carboxyl group and C12 of the eicosanoid structure, whereas the decompositions of the carboxylate anions (negative ion mode) provide data concerning structure alterations of the eicosanoid structure between C15 and C20.

Platelet-activating factor and leukotriene biosynthesis in whole blood. A model for the study of transcellular arachidonate metabolism.

As a model to perhaps better indicate potential in vivo tissue inflammatory events, the generation of leukotriene (LT)B4, 20-OH-LTB4, sulfidopeptide LT, and platelet-activating factor (PAF) from human whole blood stimulated with zymosan was compared with that produced by isolated human neutrophils suspended either in buffer or plasma. Several reports have shown that substantial LTB4 biosynthesis could be induced after addition of zymosan to whole blood, but little was known concerning the generation of other important lipid mediators, or the cellular source of these. We have shown that, in spite of some subject variation, the zymosan-induced production of 20-OH-LTB4, LTB4, and LTE4 reached maxima within 30 to 60 min with 1.1, 2.8, and 0.60 ng/10(6) neutrophils, respectively. These concentrations would be sufficient to induce significant biologic effects. Studies with isolated cell mixtures suggested that the neutrophil was the primary source of the lipid mediators or their precursors in this system, although a number of other cell types contributed as accessory cells to the final amounts and mix of mediators produced. The ratio of neutrophils to accessory cells in mixed cell experiments dramatically modified the metabolic pattern of leukotriene generation. The concentration of LTB4 was increased in the presence of RBC and that of LTE4 when platelets were present. These results suggested that cellular cooperation and transcellular biosynthesis played a key role in the overall production of eicosanoids such as LTB4 and LTC4. The concomitant synthesis of PAF in isolated cells and in whole blood was also determined as another member of the complex lipid mediator network. Maximal production of cell-associated PAF was observed within 30 min after the initiation of phagocytosis and reached levels of 3 to 5 ng PAF/10(6) neutrophils. When other cells were present in a coincubation system, the time course for production of PAF was not altered, but maximal concentration of PAF was lower, perhaps as a result of enhanced PAF metabolism. Study of eicosanoids and other lipid mediator production in mixed cell populations provides insight into those events occurring within tissues, where cross-cell signaling and transcellular biosynthesis may occur.

Analysis of histamine and N tau-methylhistamine in plasma by gas chromatography-negative ion-chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

Current methods of quantitation of histamine and its major metabolite N tau-methylhistamine are inaccurate and insensitive to the very low concentrations that exist in plasma samples. Therefore, an accurate and sensitive method for quantification in plasma has been developed using the stable isotope dilution assay with negative ion-chemical ionization mass spectrometry. For histamine, after the addition of [2H4]histamine to 2 ml of plasma, the plasma sample is deproteinized, extracted into butanol, back extracted into HCl, derivatized to the pentafluorobenzyl derivative (CH2C6F5)3-histamine, purified on silica gel columns, and then quantified with negative ion-chemical ionization mass spectrometry by selected ion monitoring of the ratio of ions m/z 430/434. For N tau-methylhistamine, after the addition of N tau-[2H3]methylhistamine to 2 ml of plasma, the plasma sample is deproteinized, extracted into butanol, back extracted into HCl, derivatized to the heptafluorobutyryl derivative (C3F7CO2)2-N tau-methylhistamine, purified on silica gel columns, and then quantified with negative ion-chemical ionization mass spectrometry by selected ion monitoring of the ratio of ions m/z 497/500. The precision of the histamine assay is 3.1% and the accuracy is 95.5 +/- 2.5% while the precision of the N tau-methylhistamine assay is 1.9% and the accuracy is 106.8 +/- 1.9%. The lower limits of sensitivity are 1 pg for histamine and 6 pg for N tau-methylhistamine injected on column. Using the assay in three normal human volunteers, plasma concentrations of histamine were 130, 92, and 85 pg/ml, and of N tau-methylhistamine were 229, 228, and 216 pg/ml. This assay provides a very sensitive and accurate method of quantitation of histamine and N tau-methylhistamine in plasma samples.

Selected-ion monitoring gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of catecholamines: enhancement of sensitivity by a simple clean-up step on Sephadex G-10.

The sensitivity of catecholamines using selected-ion monitoring gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SIM GC-MS) has been enhanced by employing a simple clean-up step using Sephadex G-10 columns. This procedure allows for the detection of extremely small amounts (1-10 pg) of biogenic amines (e.g., epinine) which corresponds to a 25-fold increase in detection limits compared to electron ionization GC-MS or high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED). The SIM GC-MS assay was used to monitor the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-mediated conversion of epinine d6 to epinephrine d6 in rat hypothalamus and brainstem in vitro and the results were compared to those obtained by HPLC-ED.