Liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric measurement of the endogenous cannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol in the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a sensitive method for measuring the putative endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) in the peripheral and central nervous system.


METHODS
A method using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was developed to determine the levels of 2-AG in methanol extracts of the rat lumbar spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and sciatic nerve.


RESULTS
2-AG was detected with high sensitivity and minimal sample preparation. The levels in the tissues analyzed were < or = pmol/mg wet weight. Similar levels were found in the spinal cord and the DRG, whereas approximately 7-fold lower levels were observed in the sciatic nerve.


CONCLUSIONS
2-AG is present in the peripheral nervous system, and the levels are markedly higher in cell bodies than those in axons.
Huang
S M
SM
Alan M Schrier Research Laboratory, Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Strangman
N M
NM
Walker
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005989:Glycerides / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000737:chemistry*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry*
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate