title: Morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide, and 6-monoacetylmorphine determined by means of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry-liquid chromatography in body fluids of heroin victims.
abstract: Morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) were isolated from body fluids using solid-phase extraction and determined by means of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry-liquid chromatography (APCI-LC-MS) in selected ion monitoring mode. The following ions were monitored: m/z 286 for morphine; m/z 286 and 462 for M3G and M6G; m/z 211, 268, and 328 for 6-MAM; and m/z 289 for morphine-d3 (internal standard). The recoveries ranged from 82 to 89% The limits of detection were as follows: 0.1 ng/mL (morphine), 0.5 ng/mL (6-MAM), and 1 ng/mL (M3G and M6G). The analytes were determined in samples taken from 21 heroin-overdose victims. Twenty-one blood samples, 11 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, 12 vitreous humor (VH) samples, and 6 urine samples were investigated. Blood concentrations (ng/mL) of morphine ranged from 8 to 1539, of M3G from 111 to 941, of M6G from 32 to 332, and of 6-MAM from 0 to 73. The levels of morphine were correlated with glucuronide values and with 6-MAM. The concentrations of morphine, M3G, and M6G in CSF were, as a rule, lower than in blood and lower in VH than in CSF. The concentrations of morphine and molar ratios of M6G-morphine in blood and CSF were correlated. Low ratios of M3G-morphine and M6G-morphine in blood of heroin-overdose victims indicated short survival time after drug intake.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Aachen University of Technology, Germany.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bogusz
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Driessen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001344:Autopsy; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D009020:Morphine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009022:Morphine Derivatives; D009294:Narcotics; C035349:morphine-6-glucuronide; D003932:Heroin; D009020:Morphine; C026979:6-O-monoacetylmorphine; C018108:morphine-3-glucuronide