title: The absolute quantification of endogenous levels of brain neuropeptides in vivo using LC-MS/MS.
abstract: Neuropeptides seem to play an important role when the CNS is challenged. In order to obtain better insights into the central peptidergic effects, it is essential to monitor their concentration in the brain. Quantification of neuropeptides in dialysates is challenging due to their low extracellular concentrations (low pM range), their low microdialysis efficiencies, the need for acceptable temporal resolution, the small sample volumes, the complexity of the matrix and the tendency of peptides to stick to glass and polymeric materials. The quantification of neuropeptides in dialysates therefore necessitates the use of very sensitive nano-LC-MS/MS methods. A number of LC-MS/MS and microdialysis parameters need to be optimized to achieve maximal sensitivity. The optimized and validated methods can be used to investigate the in vivo neuropeptide release during pathological conditions, in this way initiating new and immense challenges for the development of new drugs.
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis & Drug Information, Center for Neuroscience, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Eeckhaut
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Najat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aourz
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Smolders
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Michotte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017551:Microdialysis; D008904:Miniaturization; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides