title: Mass spectrometric identification and quantification of endogenous 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid in quail tissues.
abstract: The endogenous levels of 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-MIAA) in quail pineal gland, retina and serum were determined by capillary column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/selected ion monitoring using a deuterated internal standard and the N-pentafluoropropionyl-O-pentafluorobenzyl ester derivative. Diurnal rhythms of pineal and serum 5-MIAA with high levels at mid-light and low levels at mid-dark suggest a pineal origin of 5-MIAA in the blood. In contrast, retina displayed an opposite diurnal rhythm of 5-MIAA with high levels at night, suggesting that the biosyntheses of 5-MIAA in the quail pineal gland and retina were different. In vitro studies on incubation media indicated that both the pineal gland and retina are capable of synthesis/secretion of 5-MIAA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom Kowloon.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: O K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003624:Darkness; D003903:Deuterium; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000737:chemistry*; D011784:Quail / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C001736:5-methoxyindoleacetic acid; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D003903:Deuterium