Recognition in water of bioactive substrates by a sulphonato p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene

The molecular recognition in water of neurotransmitter monoamine and trace amine hydrochlorides by p-tert-butylcalix[5]-arene 1 – bearing 4-sulphonatobutoxy groups at the lower rim – has been investigated. According to ¹H NMR measurements, the hydrophobic cavity of receptor 1 best binds tyramine hydrochloride, K_a = 5370 ± 870 M^? 1.     

Abnormal levels of seven amino neurotransmitters in depressed rat brain and determination by HPLC‐FLD

The determination of amino acids with actions like neurotransmitters or modulators has been increasingly important for diagnosis in many neuropsychiatric diseases. A rapid and simple high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection method was developed for simultaneous determination of seven amino acids: aspartate (Asp), glutamate (Glu), serine (Ser), glutamine (Gln), glycine (Gly), taurine (Tau) and γ‐aminobutyric` acid (GABA). Homoserine was used as an internal standard. The analysis was performed on a BDS column with methanol and 50 mm sodium acetate solution (pH 6.5) using a simple gradient elution. Several parameters of the developed method were validated including linearity, accuracy, precision, extraction recovery and stability, which were within the acceptable range. The method was successfully applied to determination of real samples: hippocampus and cortex in depressed rats exposed to chronically unpredictable stress in order to study if there existed differences in the seven amino acids levels between depressed rats and control. The results showed that Asp, Gly, Tau and GABA significantly decreased with increasing Gln in the hippocampus of depressed rats, compared with that of the control group, among which obviously lower level of Asp and higher level of Gln in cortex were observed. The analytical method and the results could be useful for clinical diagnosis and further insight into pathophysiological mechanism of depression.     

大鼠服用朱砂后脑内氨基酸类递质含量的变化

研究了朱砂对大鼠脑组织中氨基酸类神经递质含量的影响.将32只Wistar大鼠随机分为低、中、高剂量组和对照组,朱砂灌胃给药14天后,采用高效液相色谱法测定大鼠脑组织中谷氨酸(Glu)、天门冬氨酸(Asp)、甘氨酸(Gly)、γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)和牛磺酸(Tau)的含量,并计算兴奋毒性指数(EI)的变化.与对照组相比较,脑组织中氨基酸类神经递质含量均呈下降趋势,其中Asp和Gly的中、高剂量组差异有统计学意义(P0.05),Tau和GABA的高剂量组有统计学差异(P0.05),Glu和EI所有剂量组均有统计学差异(P0.05).朱砂对氨基酸类神经递质具有一定的抑制作用.     

Macrocyclic Gd3+ Complexes with Pendant Crown Ethers Designed for Binding Zwitterionic Neurotransmitters

A series of Gd³⁺ complexes exhibiting a relaxometric response to zwitterionic amino acid neurotransmitters was synthesized. The design concept involves ditopic interactions 1) between a positively charged and coordinatively unsaturated Gd³⁺ chelate and the carboxylate group of the neurotransmitters and 2) between an azacrown ether appended to the chelate and the amino group of the neurotransmitters. The chelates differ in the nature and length of the linker connecting the cyclen‐type macrocycle that binds the Ln³⁺ ion and the crown ether. The complexes are monohydrated, but they exhibit high proton relaxivities (up to 7.7 mM ^?1 s^?1 at 60 MHz, 310 K) due to slow molecular tumbling. The formation of ternary complexes with neurotransmitters was monitored by ¹H relaxometric titrations of the Gd³⁺ complexes and by luminescence measurements on the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ analogues at pH 7.4. The remarkable relaxivity decrease (≈80 %) observed on neurotransmitter binding is related to the decrease in the hydration number, as evidenced by luminescence lifetime measurements on the Eu³⁺ complexes. These complexes show affinity for amino acid neurotransmitters in the millimolar range, which can be suited to imaging concentrations of synaptically released neurotransmitters. They display good selectivity over non‐amino acid neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, serotonin, and noradrenaline) and hydrogenphosphate, but selectivity over hydrogencarbonate was not achieved.     

Simultaneous profiling of multiple neurochemical pathways from a single cerebrospinal fluid sample using GC/MS/MS with electron capture detection

Biogenic amines and amino acids are widely characterized in the pathways representing neurotransmission. Although several analytical methodologies have been used to detect specific target molecules in relevant fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), multiple assays must be used to survey the primary pathways involved. This article describes the development of a GC/MS/MS method capable of analyzing up to 43 analytes (representing 20 amino acids and more than seven neurochemical pathways) from a single 50 microl CSF sample. In this procedure, a CSF sample is first treated with acetonitrile to precipitate proteins. The dried sample is then derivatized with a mixture of 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoro-1-propanol and pentafluoropropionic acetic anhydride to replace all active hydrogen atoms with fluorine-containing groups. Due to the concentration difference between amino acids and neurotransmitters, these two compound classes are analyzed in separate injections of the same derivatized extract. The total run time for each injection is approximately 15-20 min. An essential feature of the method is the use of argon as a reagent gas for electron capture chemical ionization (ECCI), as the use of the more traditional gas (methane) lacked sufficient durability to be considered for use with the present instrumentation. This article describes the development of this method including a detailed investigation of the chemical ionization conditions used. The resultant conditions allow for the profiling of biogenic amines (e.g. serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in the low picogram per milliliter range.     

Poly(3-methylthiophene)/palladium sub-micro-modified sensor electrode. Part II: Voltammetric and EIS studies, and analysis of catecholamine neurotransmitters, ascorbic acid and acetaminophen

Promising voltammetric sensors based on the modification of Pt and poly(3-methylthiophene) (PMT) electrodes with Pd nanoparticles were achieved for the determination of catecholamine neurotransmitters, ascorbic acid and acetaminophen. Electrochemistry of the indicated compounds was studied at these electrodes and interesting electrocatalytic effects were found. Furthermore, simple, easily prepared one electrochemical step Pd-modified Pt electrode (Pt/Pd) is reported for the first time. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronocoulometry (CC) were used for the determination of the apparent diffusion coefficients in different electrolytes at these electrodes and the values are in the range from 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹. Furthermore, it was found that the method of polymer formation had a substantial effect on the synergism between the polymer film and the loaded metal particles towards the oxidation of dopamine (DA) in different supporting electrolytes. This was confirmed by the CV, CC and EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) as well as SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) results. Pt and PMT electrodes modified with Pd nanoparticles showed excellent results for the simultaneous determination of tertiary and quaternary mixtures of the studied compounds.     

Polymeric bilayer modified microelectrodes for in-vivo determination of neurotransmitter dopamine

A composite polymer carbon fiber electrode modified with Nafion and cellulose acetate is described.The modified electrode discriminates against both anionic reactants and big molecular organic compounds.The bilayer configuration is prepared in two steps.First,the carbon fiber electrode is coated with Nafion,then followed by air evaporation of the solvent,the electrode is dipped in a cellulose acetate solution and hydrolyzed for a selected time.The permeability of the film is explored by use of rotating disk electrode measurements.Parameters affecting the film electrochemistry are investigated.The resulting electrodes show high selectivity and stability in body fluids.For in-vivo voltammetry,the composite polymer modified electrode has been used for detection of the oxidative current of neurotransmitter dopamine in rat brain,while it inhabits the oxidation of anionic neurotransmitter metabolites and some electroactive compounds.     

Sensitive determination of monoamine neurotransmitters,their main metabolites and precursor amino acids in different mouse brain components by liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry after selective sample clean‐up

For the assessment of diets and supplements formulated for the treatment of phenylketonuria, a highly sensitive and selective method was developed and validated for the quantification of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5‐HT), 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA), phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan in mouse cerebellum, brain stem, hypothalamus, parietal cortex, anterior piriform cortex and bulbus olfactorius. Samples were extracted by deproteinization with acetonitrile, and the extracts were cleaned up by strong anion exchange and weak cation exchange applied sequentially. The substances were detected by rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Matrix components were largely removed by the clean‐up, resulting in low matrix effects. The lower limits of quantification for an extracted tissue mass of 100 mg were 0.3, 0.3, 0.2 and 2 ng/g for DA, 5‐HT, 5‐HIAA and DOPAC, respectively. The mean true extraction recoveries were 80–102%. The relative intra‐laboratory reproducibility standard deviations were generally <11% at concentrations of 20–1000 ng/g for DA, 5‐HT, 5‐HIAA and DOPAC and 7% at concentrations of 5–50 μg/g for the amino acids. This method was successfully used in a phenylketonuria mice study including nearly 300 brain tissue samples and for small sample masses (for example, 2 mg of bulbus olfactorius).     

微柱液相色谱和电化学检测法测定鼠脑微透析液中神经传递物质

报道了使用微柱色谱和电化学检测器测定鼠脑微透析液中神经传递物质的方法。儿茶酚胺，５－羟色胺和代谢物的检测限为 ０． １～０． ５ ｐｇ。含有乙酰胆碱酯酶和胆碱氧化酶的柱后反应器使分离后的乙酰胆碱和胆碱转化成过氧化氢．再用铂电极或过氧化物酶修饰过的玻碳电极检测过氧化氢。乙酰胆碱的检测限当使用怕电极时是５０× １０－１５ｍｏｌ，当使用酶修饰电极时是１０×１０－１５ｍｏｌ。