title: GC/MS profiling of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and precursors in various animal tissues using automatic solid-phase extraction. Preliminary investigations of its potential interest in postmortem interval determination.
abstract: To quantify gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its physiological metabolites, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD), and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) in various animal tissues (kidney, muscle, heart, liver, blood, brain cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, or pons), an original gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method with a automated solid-phase extraction by Oasis MCX cartridges on a Gilson Aspec Xli was developed. Using such apparatus allowed the limit of detection (LOD) of target compounds to be significantly lowered (LOD: 0.027, 0.025, and 5.7 microg/mL for GHB, 1,4-BD, and GABA, respectively, in 200 microL or microg of sample). After validation of each analytical step, the satisfactory performances of the apparatus in conjunction with the rapidity and ease of the extraction step make it suitable for simultaneous assay of GHB, 1,4-BD, GBL, and GABA. The method was used to test the correlation between GHB levels in tissues obtained at different times after death of male Sprague-Dawley rats and the postmortem interval. Preliminary results show a linear increase of GHB levels in relation to time of death in thoracic blood and central nervous system of animals kept at 15 and 20 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Toxicologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut Régional de Médecine Légale, CHU G. Montpied, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Authier
authors.forename: Thierry W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Faict
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eschalier
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coudoré
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000032:analysis; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002138:Calibration; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002072:Butylene Glycols; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; C039681:1,4-butanediol; D015107:4-Butyrolactone