title: GC/MS assay of prostaglandins in cerebrospinal fluid from humans and monkeys.
abstract: The objective of this project has been to develop a sensitive and specific assay for prostaglandins in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with alcoholism and appropriate controls using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. This study was initiated because numerous literature reports strongly suggest that a relationship exists between ethanol's central nervous system effects and the central production of prostaglandins. In both human and animal studies, administration of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors prior to administration of ethanol attenuated central nervous system effects of ethanol. Samples from alcoholics after a three week period of abstinence and normals contained none of the measured prostaglandins (PGE2, PGE1, PGF1a, PGF2a, 6-keto-PGF1a) at a concentration more than twice the limit of quantification (3 pg/mL CSF). Comparison of GC/MS and radioimmunoassay methods provided further validation for these results. Literature reports of much higher levels of prostaglandins in normal controls, i.e., tens to hundreds of pg/mL CSF, appear to be incorrect. Examination of monkey CSF provided a positive control, since several of the prostaglandins were easily quantifiable in these samples.
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yergey
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Karanian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linnoila
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000818:Animals; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D011453:Prostaglandins; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D015237:Dinoprost; D015232:Dinoprostone