Gas chromatographic method for the determination of trace amounts of putative amino acid neurotransmitters from brain perfusates collected in vivo.
Glass capillary gas chromatography in combination with thermionic detection has been developed for the measurement of trace amounts of glycine, beta-alanine, aspartic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamic acid from brain perfusates collected in vivo by push-pull cannula techniques. Amino acids extracted from the dried perfusate residues are converted to the corresponding N-pentafluoropropionyl hexafluoroisopropyl esters (PFP-HFIP derivatives) and separated by gas chromatography on a glass capillary column coated with methylsiloxane. The detection limit of the amino acids (signal-to-noise ratio 3:1) ranges between 200 fmol and 2.0 pmol. The assay was applied to the measurement of amino acids released in vivo in the pigeon optic tectum into perfusates collected by push-pull techniques.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods*; D010856:Columbidae; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000032:analysis; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology
D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents