title: Capillary gas chromatographic assay for valproic acid and its 2-desaturated metabolite in brain and plasma.
abstract: A capillary gas chromatographic method has been developed for quantitating the antiepileptic drug valproic acid and its pharmacologically active metabolite, E-delta 2-valproic acid, in brain and plasma. The method was designed to cover large concentration ranges of both valproic acid and E-delta 2-valproic acid for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in laboratory animals and human subjects. Careful optimization of the extraction and chromatographic procedures was needed to resolve the analytes from a variety of endogenous constituents and other known metabolites of valproic acid. A sensitivity limit of 0.10 micrograms/g for 300 mg of brain tissue or 0.20 micrograms/ml for 150 microliters of plasma was achieved using flame ionization detection. The within-batch coefficients of variation for both analytes were less than 8%. Reproducible calibration data were observed over a period of three to eleven months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Semmes
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D014635:Valproic Acid