title: Gas chromatographic method for the determination of trace amounts of putative amino acid neurotransmitters from brain perfusates collected in vivo.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents