title: Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of red blood cells from Göttingen minipig following whole-body vapor exposure to VX.
abstract: A method to detect fluoride ion generated O-ethyl methylphosphonofluoridate (VX-G) in Göttingen minipig red blood cells (RBC) following whole-body exposure to VX vapor utilizing a gas chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer (GC-MS-MS) has been developed. Dose-response curves for VX exposure were generated after applying the fluoride ion reactivation assay to the RBC fraction of serially collected whole blood samples that were taken after whole-body exposures that varied in both duration and concentration. GC-MS-MS analysis of minipig RBC samples following 180-min exposures at two different concentrations was a more precise indicator for severity of exposure than the analysis of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition for the same samples. AChE enzyme activity recovered faster than indicated by the apparent elimination rate of VX-G. GC-MS-MS analyses of RBC samples following VX exposure demonstrate this technique has both adequate sensitivity and specificity to indicate the severity of exposure.
authors.affiliation: US Army Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5424, USA. christopher.everette.byers@us.army.mil
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hulet
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Gaviola
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jakubowski
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002138:Calibration; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D015415:Biomarkers; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D005459:Fluorides; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D017680:Potassium Compounds; C033320:potassium fluoride; C009680:VX-agent