Stable-isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometric measurement of 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, glutaric acid and related metabolites in body fluids of patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 found in newborn screening

We developed a simple and sensitive stable-isotope dilution method for the quantification of 3-hydroxyglutaric acid (3HGA) and glutaric acid (GA) in body fluids. In our method, tert-butyldimethylsilyl (tBDMS) derivatives of 3HGA and GA were measured with a conventional electron-impact ionization (EI) mode in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The control values for 3HGA in nmol/ml were 0.15+/-0.08 (serum; n=10) and 0.07+/-0.03 (CSF; n=10). In addition, glutarylcarnitine and free carnitine were quantified by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Using these methods, we monitored 3HGA, GA, and glutarylcarnitine in the body fluids of three patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 found during newborn screening. None of the patients had experienced neurological strokes, which are possibly caused by the accumulation of 3HGA, at 15-24 months of age under a disease-specific treatment, including carnitine supplementation. Our data showed that 3HGA levels were relatively high in some serum samples with lower glutarylcarnitine and carnitine levels, suggesting that carnitine supplementation may play a role in preventing the accumulation of 3HGA in patients with this disease.     

Quantitation of desmosine and isodesmosine in urine, plasma, and sputum by LC-MS/MS as biomarkers for elastin degradation

The aim of this study is to develop a standardized LC-MS/MS method for accurate measurement of desmosine (DES) and isodesmosine (IDS) in all body fluids as biomarkers for in vivo degradation of matrix tissue elastin in man and animals. A reproducible three-step analytical procedure: (1) sample hydrolysis in 6N HCl, (2) SPE by a CF1 cartridge with addition of acetylated pyridinoline as internal standard (IS), and (3) LC/MSMS analysis by SRM monitoring of transition ions; DES or IDS (m/z 526-481+397) and IS (m/z 471-128) was developed. The method achieves accurate measurements of DES/IDS in accessible body fluids (i.e. urine, plasma, and sputum). LOQ of DES/IDS in body fluids is 0.1 ng/ml. The % recoveries and reproducibility from urine, plasma, and sputum samples are above 99 ± 8% (n = 3), 94 ± 9% (n = 3) and 87 ± 11% (n = 3), with imprecision 8%, 9% and 10%, respectively. The proposed method was applied to measure DES/IDS in body fluids of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy controls. Total DES/IDS in sputum and plasma is increased over normal controls along with the free DES/IDS in urine in patients. DES/IDS can be used to study the course of COPD and the response to therapy. This practical and reliable LC-MS/MS method is proposed as a standardized method to measure DES and IDS in body fluids. This method can have wide application for investigating diseases which involve elastic tissue degradation.     

Conservation of central nervous system glutaryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase in fruit-eating bats with glutaric aciduria and deficient hepatic glutaryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase

The adult fruit-eating bat, Rousettus aegypticus, excretes massive amounts of glutaric acid in the urine (20-70 mumol/mg creatinine) comparable to those of humans affected with the inherited metabolic disorder, glutaric aciduria type I. Glutaric acid was quantified by sequential liquid partition chromatography and gas chromatography. Oral loading with the amino acid precursors of glutaric acid, L-lysine and L-tryptophan, resulted in significant increases in glutaric acid excretion above the base-line values. Glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity was assayed in adult bat tissues and compared with the same tissues in the rat using methods of 14CO2 evolution from 1,5-[14C]glutaryl-CoA. A severe deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity was found in the bat liver and kidney, whereas brain and spinal cord levels were similar to those in the rat. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography analysis of the metabolites in the assay mixture showed negligible hydrolysis of [14C]glutaryl-CoA to free [14C]glutaric acid and complete conversion of the product [14C]crotonyl-CoA to 3-hydroxy[14C]butyryl-CoA. The adult bat, with its huge glutaric acid excretion and deficient liver glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase, metabolically mimics patients affected with glutaric aciduria type I. The bat does not, however, display the neurologic manifestations seen in patients. This may be explained by conservation of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity in the central nervous system of the bat.     

A lymphoblast model for IDH2 gain-of-function activity in d-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria type II: novel avenues for biochemical and therapeutic studies

The recent discovery of heterozygous isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) mutations of residue Arg(140) to Gln(140) or Gly(140) (IDH2(wt/R140Q), IDH2(wt/R140G)) in d-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (D-2-HGA) has defined the primary genetic lesion in 50% of D-2-HGA patients, denoted type II. Overexpression studies with IDH1(R132H) and IDH2(R172K) mutations demonstrated that the enzymes acquired a new function, converting 2-ketoglutarate (2-KG) to d-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2-HG), in lieu of the normal IDH reaction which reversibly converts isocitrate to 2-KG. To confirm the IDH2(wt/R140Q) gain-of-function in D-2-HGA type II, and to evaluate potential therapeutic strategies, we developed a specific and sensitive IDH2(wt/R140Q) enzyme assay in lymphoblasts. This assay determines gain-of-function activity which converts 2-KG to D-2-HG in homogenates of D-2-HGA type II lymphoblasts, and uses stable-isotope-labeled 2-keto[3,3,4,4-(2)H(4)]glutarate. The specificity and sensitivity of the assay are enhanced with chiral separation and detection of stable-isotope-labeled D-2-HG by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Eleven potential inhibitors of IDH2(wt/R140Q) enzyme activity were evaluated with this procedure. The mean reaction rate in D-2-HGA type II lymphoblasts was 8-fold higher than that of controls and D-2-HGA type I cells (14.4nmolh(-1)mgprotein(-1) vs. 1.9), with a corresponding 140-fold increase in intracellular D-2-HG level. Optimal inhibition of IDH2(wt/R140Q) activity was obtained with oxaloacetate, which competitively inhibited IDH2(wt/R140Q) activity. Lymphoblast IDH2(wt/R140Q) showed long-term cell culture stability without loss of the heterozygous IDH2(wt/R140Q) mutation, underscoring the utility of the lymphoblast model for future biochemical and therapeutic studies.     

Evidence that 3-hydroxyglutaric acid interacts with NMDA receptors in synaptic plasma membranes from cerebral cortex of young rats

Neurological symptoms are common in patients with glutaric acidemia type I (GA-I). Although the pathophysiology of this disorder is not yet fully established, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid (3-HGA), which accumulates in affected patients, has recently been demonstrated to be excitotoxic to embryonic chick and neonatal rat neurons probably via NMDA glutamate receptors. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of 3-HGA on the [(3)H]glutamate and [(3)H]MK-801 (dizocilpine) binding to rat synaptic plasma membranes from cerebral cortex of young rats in order to elucidate the interactions of 3-HGA with glutamate receptors and its possible contribution to the in vitro excitotoxic properties of 3-HGA. 3-HGA (10-100 microM) significantly decreased Na(+)-dependent (up to 62%) and Na(+)-independent (up to 30%) [(3)H]glutamate binding to synaptic membranes, reflecting a possible competition between glutamate and 3-HGA for the glutamate transporter and receptor sites, respectively. Since a decrease in Na(+)-independent glutamate binding might represent an interaction of 3-HGA with glutamate receptors, we next investigated whether 3-HGA interacts with NMDA receptors by adding NMDA alone or combined with 3-HGA and measuring Na(+)-independent [(3)H]glutamate binding to synaptic membranes (binding to receptors). We verified that 3-HGA and NMDA, at 10 and 100 microM concentrations, decreased glutamate binding by up to 20 and 45%, respectively, and that the simultaneous addition of both substances did not provoke an additive effect, implying that they bind to NMDA receptors at the same site. Furthermore, the binding of the NMDA-channel blocker [(3)H ]MK-801 was significantly increased (approximately 32-40%) by 10 and 100 microM 3-HGA, implying that 3-HGA was able to open the NMDA channel allowing MK-801 binding, which is a characteristic of NMDA agonists. On the other hand, glutamate had a much higher stimulatory effect on this binding (180% increase), reflecting its strong NMDA agonist property. Furthermore, the simultaneous addition of 3-HGA and glutamate provoked an additive stimulatory effect on [(3)H]MK-801 binding to the NMDA receptor. These data indicate that, relatively to glutamate, 3-HGA is a weak agonist of NMDA receptors. Finally, we demonstrated that 3-HGA provoked a significant increase of extracellular calcium uptake by cerebral cortex slices, strengthening therefore, the view that 3-HGA activates NMDA receptors. The present study therefore, demonstrates at the molecular level that 3-HGA modulates glutamatergic neurotransmission and may explain previous findings relating the neurotoxic actions of this organic acid with excitotoxicity.     

Ammonium Accumulation and Cell Death in a Rat 3D Brain Cell Model of Glutaric Aciduria Type I

Glutaric aciduria type I (glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency) is an inborn error of metabolism that usually manifests in infancy by an acute encephalopathic crisis and often results in permanent motor handicap. Biochemical hallmarks of this disease are elevated levels of glutarate and 3-hydroxyglutarate in blood and urine. The neuropathology of this disease is still poorly understood, as low lysine diet and carnitine supplementation do not always prevent brain damage, even in early-treated patients. We used a 3D in vitro model of rat organotypic brain cell cultures in aggregates to mimic glutaric aciduria type I by repeated administration of 1 mM glutarate or 3-hydroxyglutarate at two time points representing different developmental stages. Both metabolites were deleterious for the developing brain cells, with 3-hydroxyglutarate being the most toxic metabolite in our model. Astrocytes were the cells most strongly affected by metabolite exposure. In culture medium, we observed an up to 11-fold increase of ammonium in the culture medium with a concomitant decrease of glutamine. We further observed an increase in lactate and a concomitant decrease in glucose. Exposure to 3-hydroxyglutarate led to a significantly increased cell death rate. Thus, we propose a three step model for brain damage in glutaric aciduria type I: (i) 3-OHGA causes the death of astrocytes, (ii) deficiency of the astrocytic enzyme glutamine synthetase leads to intracerebral ammonium accumulation, and (iii) high ammonium triggers secondary death of other brain cells. These unexpected findings need to be further investigated and verified in vivo. They suggest that intracerebral ammonium accumulation might be an important target for the development of more effective treatment strategies to prevent brain damage in patients with glutaric aciduria type I.     

Cortisol production by dispersed guinea-pig adrenal cells; a specific, sensitive and reproducible response to ACTH....and its fragments

Naturally occurring steroids and peptide hormones, tested at supraphysiological concentrations, were without effect on basal and human (h) 1-39 ACTH (NIBSC code 74/555, 25 ng/l (5.5 X 10(-12) mol/l] stimulated cortisol production. Further, low concentrations of angiotensin II, N-pro-opiocortin (N terminal fragment 1-76) and gamma-MSH all of which have been reported to synergise with ACTH with regard to cortisol production, were without significant effect alone or in combination with ACTH over the range 2.2 X 10(-13) to 5.5 X 10(-12) mol/l. The activity of h 1-39 was compared with that of the ACTH related peptides 1-24, 1-18, 1-17, 1-16, 1-13-NH2 (alpha MSH), 1-10 and 4-10. The dose responses were parallel and the same maximal cortisol output was observed with all the peptides except the 1-10 fragment. Half maximal stimulation occurred at 3.1 X 10(-12) (1-24), 4.4 X 10(-12) (h 1-39), 1.5 X 10(-11) (1-39), 3.3 X 10(-10) (1-18), 5 X 10(-9) (1-13-NH2), 8 X 10(-9) (1-17), 2 X 10(-7) (1-16) and 1 X 10(-5) (4-10) mol/l respectively. Interference by the above ACTH-derived peptides in cortisol secretion by the cells in response to 5.5 X 10(-12) mol/l h 1-39 ACTH was minimal over the range 5.2 X 10(-12)-2.2 X 10(-6) mol/l. The sensitivity of the adrenal cells to h 1-39 ACTH was such that 2 ng/l (4.4 X 10(-13) mol/l) provoked cortisol secretion over the control (P less than 0.05, n = 17). The coefficient of variation within assay for each dose on the full standard curve (2.2 X 10(-13)-1.1 X 10(-10) mol/l) was less than 10% (n = 6). Half maximal stimulation was given by 14.5 ng/l (3.2 X 10(-12) mol/l). Between control and 1.1 X 10(-10) mol/l ACTH there was a 32 +/- 8 (mean +/- SD, n = 9) fold change in cortisol production.     

Induction of Oxidative Stress by Chronic and Acute Glutaric Acid Administration to Rats

1. Glutaric acidemia type I (GA I) is a neurometabolic disorder caused by deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase, which leads to tissue accumulation of predominantly glutaric acid (GA) and also 3-hydroxyglutaric acid to a lesser amount. Affected patients usually present progressive cortical atrophy and acute striatal degeneration attributed to the toxic accumulating metabolites. 2. In the present study, we determined a number of oxidative stress parameters, namely chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS), total antioxidant reactivity (TAR), glutathione (GSH) levels, and the activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), in various tissues from rats chronically exposed to GA or to saline (controls). High GA concentrations, similar to those found in glutaric aciduria type I, were induced in the brain by three daily subcutaneous injections of saline-buffered GA (5 μmol/g body weight) to Wistar rats of 5–22 days of life. The parameters were assessed 12 h after the last GA administration in different brain structures, skeletal muscle, heart, liver, erythrocytes, and plasma. The lipid peroxidation parameters chemiluminescence and/or TBA-RS measurements were found significantly increased in midbrain, liver, and erythrocytes of GA-injected rats. The activity of GPx was significantly reduced in midbrain and markedly increased in liver. TAR measurement was significantly reduced in midbrain and liver. Furthermore, GSH levels were reduced in liver and heart. We also investigated the acute in vivo effect of GA administration on the same oxidative stress parameters in cerebral structures and erythrocytes from 22-day-old rats. We found that TBA-RS values were significantly increased in erythrocytes, TAR levels were markedly decreased in midbrain and cerebellum, and GPx activity mildly reduced in the midbrain. 3. These data showing an imbalance between antioxidant defences and oxidative damage, particularly in midbrain, liver, and erythrocytes from GA-injected rats, indicate that oxidative stress might be involved in GA toxicity and that the midbrain, where the striatum is located, is the brain structure more susceptible to GA chronic and acute exposition.     

甲硫—脑啡肽对大鼠DRG分离神经元ATP—激活内向电流的抑制

本研究探讨了甲硫-脑啡肽(met-Enk)对ATP-激活电流(IATP)的调制作用.实验在大鼠新鲜分离背根神经节(DRG)神经元上进行.应用全细胞膜片钳技术所记录的IATP为内向电流.在被检测的DRG神经元中,90.0%(45/50)的细胞对ATP有反应.在45个对ATP敏感的细胞中对大部分细胞(29/45)施加met-Enk(10-9～10-5mol/L)也引起一内向电流;少部分细胞(9/45)为外向电流;其余的细胞(7/45)未引起可检测的膜反应.预加met-Enk后IATP明显地被抑制,此种抑制作用为剂量依赖性的.在预加10-9、10-8、10-7、10-6、10-5mol/Lmet-Enk后,IATP的抑制分别为13.2±5.4%(n=5)、39.2±8.6%(n=8)、54.1±8.6%(n=8)、43.3±7.9%(n=7);43.1±7.9%(n=7)(mean±SKM).阿片肽拮抗剂纳洛酮能翻转此种抑制效应.IATP的量-效关系表明,预加met-Enk后曲线明显压低,在浓度为10-3mol/L时IATP下降约25%,而Kd值几乎不变.应用二次钳压技术胞内透析H-9(PKA抑制剂)能取消此种抑制作用.上述结果提示met-Enk对IATP的抑制效应为非竞争性抑制作用,可能是由于阿片受体激活后,经相应的胞内信号转导途径使ATP受体磷酸化所致.     

Galanin in the porcine pancreas.

Galanin, a 29 amino acid neuropeptide, was recently isolated from pig intestine. We studied the localization, nature and effect of galanin in pig pancreas. Galanin immunoreactive nerve fibers were regularly found in the pancreas. A peptide chromatographically similar to synthetic galanin was identified in pancreas extracts. The effect of galanin on the endocrine and exocrine secretion was studied in isolated pancreases, perfused with a synthetic medium containing 3.5, 5 or 8 mmol/l glucose and synthetic galanin (10(-10)-10(-8) mol/l). There was no effect on the basal exocrine secretion. The output of insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) was measured in the effluent. There was no effect on PP secretion. At a perfusate glucose concentration of 5 mmol/l, galanin at 10(-9) mol/l increased insulin secretion by 55 +/- 14% (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 5) of basal secretion, and at 10(-8) mol/l by 58 +/- 27% (n = 6). At 8 mmol/l glucose, insulin secretion increased by 25 +/- 10% (n = 6) and 62 +/- 17% (n = 8). At 5 mmol/l glucose glucagon secretion was increased by 15 +/- 3% (n = 5) by galanin at 10(-9) mol/l and by 29 +/- 11% (n = 5) by galanin at 10(-8) mol/l, and at 8 mmol/l glucose by 66 +/- 27% and 41 +/- 25%. Somatostatin secretion was inhibited to 72 +/- 2% (n = 5) of basal secretion by galanin at 10(-9) mol/l and to 65 +/- 7% (n = 7) at galanin at 10(-8) mol/l, both at 5 mmol/l glucose. At 8 mmol/l the figures were 83 +/- 6% and 70 +/- 10%. Insulin secretion in response to square wave increases in glucose concentration from 3.5 to 11 mmol/l (n = 5) increased 2-fold during simultaneous perfusion with galanin (10(-8) mol/l).     

Simple and rapid method for the measurement of nitrite and nitrate in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid by capillary electrophoresis

Nitrite and nitrate levels in physiological fluids are commonly used as an index of nitric oxide production. We developed simple and rapid method for the determination of these anions by capillary zone electrophoresis employing borate buffer (pH 10, 100 mmol/l) as running electrolyte. The anions were analyzed in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) without deproteinization of the samples. Electrophoresis was carried out in a capillary (36.5 cm×75 μm) at a potential of 15 kV, with on-column UV detection at 214 nm. Mean retention times for nitrite and nitrates were 4.631 and 5.152 min, respectively. The method was linear (r=0.999) within a 1–500 μmol/l concentration range. Physiological levels of nitrate in plasma (40.2 μmol/l) and CSF (15.3 μmol/l) could be determined with good precision (coefficients of variation <6%) and accuracy (recoveries of added nitrate to plasma and CSF were 97.4 and 104.5%, respectively). Measurements of the physiological levels of nitrite in plasma (6.1 μmol/l) and CSF (0.9 μmol/l) were less precise and accurate.     

Genetic mapping of glutaric aciduria, type 3, to chromosome 7 and identification of mutations in c7orf10

While screening Old Order Amish children for glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) between 1989 and 1993, we found three healthy children who excreted abnormal quantities of glutaric acid but low 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, a pattern consistent with glutaric aciduria type 3 (GA3). None of these children had the GCDH c.1262C→T mutation that causes GA1 among the Amish. Using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes, we identified a shared homozygous 4.7 Mb region on chromosome 7. This region contained 25 genes including C7orf10, an open reading frame with a putative mitochondrial targeting sequence and coenzyme-A transferase domain. Direct sequencing of C7orf10 revealed that the three Amish individuals were homozygous for a nonsynonymous sequence variant (c.895C→T, Arg299Trp). We then sequenced three non-Amish children with GA3 and discovered two nonsense mutations (c.322C→T, Arg108Ter, and c.424C→T, Arg142Ter) in addition to the Amish mutation. Two pathogenic alleles were identified in each of the six patients. There was no consistent clinical phenotype associated with GA3. In affected individuals, urine molar ratios of glutarate to its derivatives (3-hydroxyglutarate, glutarylcarnitine, and glutarylglycine) were elevated, suggesting impaired formation of glutaryl-CoA. These observations refine our understanding of the lysine-tryptophan degradation pathway and have important implications for the pathophysiology of GA1.     

Determination of iodide using flow injection with acidic potassium permanganate chemiluminescence detection.

A simple and rapid flow-injection method is described for the determination of iodide, based on potassium permanganate chemiluminescence detection via oxidation of formaldehyde in aqueous hydrochloric acid. The calibration graph was linear over the range 1.0-12 x 10(-6) mol/L (r2 = 0.9955) with relative standard deviations (n = 4) in the range 1.0-3.5%. The detection limit (3sigma) was 1.0 x 10(-7) mol/L, with sample throughput of 120/h. The effect of interfering cations [Ca(II), Mg(II), Ni(II), Fe(II), Fe(III) and Pb(II)] and anions (Cl-, SO4(2-), PO4(3-), NO3-, NO2-, F- and SO3(2-)) were studied. The method was applied to iodized salt samples and the results obtained in the range 0.03 +/- 0.005 - 0.10 +/- 0.006 mg I/g were in reasonable agreement with the amount labelled. The method was statistically compared with the results obtained by titration; no significant disagreement at 95% confidence was observed.     

Acute effects of valsartan on insulin sensitivity in obese, non-hypertensive subjects with and without type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Two studies were designed to determine whether a single dose (80 mg) of the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), valsartan, alters insulin sensitivity in obese, non-hypertensive subjects with and without Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Insulin sensitivity (S(I)), glucose effectiveness (S(G)), and acute insulin response (AIR(0-10 min)) were measured by means of a 3-hour insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) before and after a single dose of valsartan. Study 1: obese, normotensive non-diabetic male subjects (n = 12), mean (SD) age 37.2 +/- 11.2 years, BMI 32.8 +/- 6.8 kg/m (2); Study 2: obese, normotensive Type 2 diabetic patients (n = 12), mean age 55.7 +/- 6.9 years, BMI 35.0 +/- 6.8 kg/m (2)/l. Both studies were randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose crossover group studies involving subjects in two study days, two weeks apart. After fasting samples were taken, a 300 mg/kg iv glucose bolus was injected at 0 min, and 0.05 U/kg iv insulin was given 20 min later. Blood samples for analysis of glucose and insulin were taken throughout the 3-hour study period. RESULTS: Study 1 (non-diabetic subjects) S(I) 2.81 vs. 2.63 x 10 (-4) min (-1) per microU/ml (p = 0.54), S(G) 0.020 vs. 0.020 min (-1) (p = 0.90), AIR(0-10) min 3305 vs. 3450 microU/min/ml (p = 0.71); Study 2 (patients with type 2 diabetes) S(I) 0.59 vs. 0.85 x 10 (-4) min (-1) per microU/ml (p = 0.15), S(G) 0.013 vs. 0.014 min (-1) (p = 0.71), AIR(0-10) min 65 vs. 119 microU/min/ml (p = 0.14), placebo vs. valsartan, respectively. CONCLUSION: In obese, non-hypertensive non-diabetic and Type 2 diabetic subjects a single dose of valsartan does not alter insulin sensitivity.     

非洲爪蟾卵母细胞GABAB和GABAc受体介导的电流反应

实验应用双电极电压箝技术,在具有滤泡膜的非洲爪蟾(Xenopuslaevis)卵母细胞上记录到γ-氨基丁酸(γ-aminobutyricacid,GABA)-激活电流。此GABA-激活电流的特点及有关GABA受体类型的研究和分析如下(1)在35.5%(55/155)的受检细胞外加GABA可引起一慢的浓度依赖性的外向电流。(2)GABAA受体的选择性拮抗剂bicuculline(10     

Central hypertensive actions of angiotensin I, II and III in conscious rats

The effects of intracerebroventricular administrations of three natural angiotensins, angiotensin I (ANG I 3.8 X 10-11-9.4 X10-10 mol/kg body weight), II (9.6 X 10-12-2.4 X 10-10 mol/kg body weight) and III (2.7 X 10-10 2.5 X 10-9 mol/kg body weight) on systemic blood pressure were investigated in conscious rats. Angiotensin II (ANG II), ANG I and angiotensin III (ANG III), increased blood pressure in a dose-related manner. The order of potency of angiotensins was ANG II greater than ANG I greater than ANG III. The intraventricular administration of a converting enzyme inhibitor (SQ 14225, 6.9 X10-8 mol/kg) abolished the central effect of ANG I, while an angiotensin II analogue ([Sar1-Ala8]ANG II, 1.1 X 10-8 mol/kg) administered intraventricularly inhibited the central pressor effects of these three angiotensins. These results suggest that ANG II is a main mediator of the renin-angiotensin system in the central nervous system.     

N-Acetyl-aspartylglutamate (NAAG) in human cerebrospinal fluid: Determination by high performance liquid chromatography,and influence of biological variables

Summary NAAG is one of the neuropeptides found in highest concentrations in the CNS. The presence of micromolar concentrations of NAAG in human CSF was demonstrated by using two different and complementary analytical approaches: 1) isocratic separation of endogenous NAAG by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with dual wavelength detection and 2) derivatization of endogenous NAAG with acidic methanol and subsequent HPLC analysis of the derivative NAAG-trimethyl ester. The NAAG concentration was between 0.44µmol/l and 7.16µmol/l (mean of 2.19 ± 1.53µmol/l) in CSF samples from forty neuropsychiatric patients. Endogenous NAAG or [³H]NAAG added to CSF samples were not significantly degraded when the CSF was incubated at 37°C during one hour, suggesting that the peptide is a highly stable metabolite in the subarachnoid space. In addition, evidence is provided that NAAG does not present a concentration gradient along the lower subarachnoid space.     

Rapid,fluorimetric-liquid chromatographic determination of malondialdehyde in biological samples

Capillary zone electrophoresis was employed for the determination of lactate using end-column amperometric detection at a carbon fiber bundle microdisk electrode. The optimum conditions of separation and detection are 3.6 x 10(-3) mol/l Na(2)HPO(4)-1.4 x 10(-3) mol/l NaH(2)PO (pH 7.2) for the buffer solution, 18 kV for the separation voltage and 1.60 V versus the saturated calomel electrode for the detection potential. The limit of detection is 7.6 x 10(-7) mol/l or 1.7 fmol (S/N=3) and the linear range is 1.7 x 10(-6)-8.2 x 10(-4) mol/l for the injection voltage of 6 kV and injection time of 5 s. The RSD is 1.8% for the migration time and 3.3% for the electrophoretic peak current. The method was applied to the determination of lactate in human saliva. The recovery of the method is between 95 and 109%.     

Accumulation of 4- and 5-ene steroid sulfates in human breast cyst fluids

Gross cystic disease of the breast is one of the most common diseases of adult females. Breast cyst fluid contains various steroid hormones. In order to obtain more information about the concentrations of 4- and 5-ene steroids in human breast cyst fluids, levels of pregnenolone sulfate (PREGS), pregnenolone (PREG), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 35 human breast cyst fluid samples, obtained from 35 patients (28-54 years old) were analyzed. Cyst fluid electrolytes were simultaneously determined. Levels of PREGS (mean+/-S.D.) were 26.9+/-20.0 micromol/l (N=35) and of PREG were <0.1 micromol/l. Levels of DHEAS and DHEA were 89.1+/-111.7 micromol/l (N=35) and 0.3+/-0.2 micromol/l (N=35), respectively. Cyst fluids were divided into two groups (types I and II) according to their electrolyte ratio (K(+)/Na(+)). The cysts of the type I group (K(+)/Na(+) >1.5) contained significantly higher levels of PREGS (39.9+/-21.1 micromol/l) and DHEAS (133.2+/-87.9 micromol/l) than those of the type II group (K(+)/Na(+) <1.5), the mean levels of which were 19.8+/-16.2 micromol/dl for PREGS, and 36.3+/-29.0 micromol/dl for DHEAS (P<0.05). PREGS and DHEAS levels in the cysts were significantly correlated (r=0.49; P<0.01). Human breast cyst fluids contain high concentration of DHEAS and PREGS, especially in the cyst fluids containing high K(+)/Na(+) ratios.     

A HPLC-mass spectrometric method suitable for the therapeutic drug monitoring of everolimus

We report here the validation of an HPLC-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of everolimus, an immunosuppressant drug. Whole blood samples (100 microl) were extracted by protein precipitation which involved sample pre-treatment with zinc sulphate followed by acetonitrile (containing internal standard, 40-O-(3'-hydroxy)propyl-rapamycin). HPLC was performed using a step-gradient at a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min on a Waters TDM C18 column (10 mm x 2.1mm I.D.) with a resultant chromatographic analysis time of 2 min. Mass spectrometric detection by selected reaction monitoring (everolimus m/z 975.5-->908.3; internal standard m/z 989.5-->922.3). The assay was linear from 0.5 to 40 microg/l (r2>0.994, n=11). The inter- and intra-day analytical recovery and imprecision for quality control samples (1.25, 12.5 and 30 microg/l) were 93.4-98.2% and <10.7%, respectively (n=10). At the lower limit of quantification (0.5 microg/l) the inter- and intra-day analytical recovery was 94.4-95.8% with imprecision of <14.1% (n=10). The absolute recovery of everolimus (6.5 microg/l) and internal standard (12.5 microg/l) was 96.5 and 88.3%, respectively (n=3). A comparison of our method against the mean of all HPLC methods for a series of samples from an external proficiency testing scheme revealed good correlation as shown by the regression analysis: y=0.973x+0.301 (r2=0.986, n=71). In conclusion, the method described is suited to the current requirements for therapeutic drug monitoring of everolimus.