Chemical derivatization and the selection of deuterated internal standard for quantitative determination--methamphetamine example

Use of an isotopic analogue of the analyte as the internal standard in a quantitative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry targeted-compound-analysis protocol is often hindered by the availability of an adequate number (typically three for the drug/metabolite and two for the isotopic analogue) of sufficiently high mass ions that can be attributed to each member of the pair and are sufficiently free of interference by the contribution from the other component of the pair, a phenomenon termed "cross-contribution". Methamphetamine (MA) is selected as the exemplar compound to examine the effectiveness in using different chemical derivatization routes to produce derivatized analyte-isotopic analogue pairs that can generate more favorable mass spectrometric data to meet this analytical requirement. Trimethylsilyl-, trichloroacetyl-, and pentafluoropropionyl-derivatization and MA-d5, MA-d8, and MA-d9 are studied. Data resulting from this study indicate that the number of ion pairs suitable for quantitation and the degree of cross-contribution of these ions vary significantly. These data empirically demonstrate that derivatization methods play a significant role in deciding which deuterated analogue of the analyte provides the most suitable ion pairs that cause the least cross-contribution. The most suitable internal standard varies with the derivatization route adapted for an analytical protocol.

Mitogen and substrate differentially affect the lineage restriction of adult rat subventricular zone neural precursor cell populations

The effects of specific mitogens and substrates on the proliferative capacity and the differentiated phenotypic plasticity of neural precursor cell populations isolated from the adult rat subventricular zone (SVZ) were examined. SVZ cells were grown on uncoated tissue culture plastic, extracellular matrix, or poly-D-ornithine with either laminin or fibronectin. SVZ neural precursor cells could not be generated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, stem cell factor, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor, or ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), but could be with EGF, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), and FGF2 plus heparin. Varying combinations of substrate and mitogen resulted in very different expansion rates and/or lineage potential. Neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes differentiated from all cultures, but EGF-generated neural precursor cells were more restricted to an astrocytic lineage and FGF2-generated neural precursor cells had a greater capacity for neuronal differentiation. In both EGF- and FGF2-generated cell populations, CNTF increased the number of differentiated astrocytes, triiodothyronine oligodendrocytes, PDGF neurons, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor neurons only from EGF cells. Electrophysiological analysis of differentiated cells showed three distinct phenotypes, glial, neuronal, and presumed precursor cells, although the neuronal properties were immature. Collectively, these data indicate that CNS neural precursor cell populations isolated with different mitogens and substrates are intrinsically different and their characteristics cannot be directly compared.

Changes in the axonal conduction velocity of pyramidal tract neurons in the aged cat

The present study was undertaken to determine whether age-dependent changes in axonal conduction velocity occur in pyramidal tract neurons. A total of 260 and 254 pyramidal tract neurons were recorded extracellularly in the motor cortex of adult control and aged cats, respectively. These cells were activated antidromically by electrical stimulation of the medullary pyramidal tract. Fast- and slow-conducting neurons were identified according to their axonal conduction velocity in both control and aged cats. While 51% of pyramidal tract neurons recorded in the control cats were fast conducting (conduction velocity greater than 20 m/s), only 26% of pyramidal tract neurons in the aged cats were fast conducting. There was a 43% decrease in the median conduction velocity for the entire population of pyramidal tract neurons in aged cats when compared with that of pyramidal tract neurons in the control cats (P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U-test). A linear relationship between the spike duration of pyramidal tract neurons and their antidromic latency was present in both control and aged cats. However, the regression slope was significantly reduced in aged cats. This reduction was due to the appearance of a group of pyramidal tract neurons with relatively shorter spike durations but slower axonal conduction velocities in the aged cat. Sample intracellular data confirmed the above results. These observations form the basis for the following conclusions: (i) there is a decrease in median conduction velocity of pyramidal tract neurons in aged cats; (ii) the reduction in the axonal conduction velocity of pyramidal tract neurons in aged cats is due, in part, to fibers that previously belonged to the fast-conducting group and now conduct at slower velocity.

Electrophysiological properties of mitogen-expanded adult rat spinal cord and subventricular zone neural precursor cells

Growth factor-expanded neural precursor cells isolated from the mammalian central nervous system can differentiate into neurons and glia. Although the morphological and neurochemical development of these neural precursor cells has been investigated, little attention has been paid to their electrophysiology. This study examined the electrophysiological properties of neurons and glia derived from neural precursor cells isolated from the adult rat spinal cord (SC) and subventricular zone (SVZ). Cells were cultured in medium containing epidermal growth factor and/or fibroblast growth factor-2. After at least two passages, spheres of neural precursor cells were plated on coated coverslips and maintained in culture for up to 6 weeks. Whole-cell patch recordings were made using standard current clamp techniques. Immature action potentials were observed within hours of plating for both SC and SVZ cells. Input resistance and time constants decreased over the first week after plating and no further changes were found at later times. At similar times following plating, however, SVZ cells had a lower input resistance and shorter time constant compared to SC cells. SVZ cells also had higher resting membrane potentials and smaller after hyperpolarizations than those of SC cells, despite no significant difference in the amplitude of action potentials. Neither the SC nor the SVZ cells were capable of eliciting more than a single action potential in response to injected current. While all SC cells tested were depolarized by glutamate, the response of SVZ cells to glutamate varied considerably. This study revealed that neural precursor cells from SC and SVZ differ in both active and passive membrane properties. It appears also that the electrophysiological development of SC and SVZ precursor-derived neurons is incomplete under the conditions used. These observations suggest that the neural precursor cells from different anatomical locations may be physiologically diverse and may exhibit some differences in commitment toward neuronal or glial phenotypes.

Naloxone reduces the amplitude of IPSPs evoked in lumbar motoneurons by reticular stimulation during carbachol-induced motor inhibition

During active sleep or carbachol-induced motor inhibition, electrical stimulation of the medullary nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRGc) evoked large amplitude, glycinergic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in cat motoneurons. The present study was directed to determine whether these IPSPs, that are specific to the state of active sleep, are modulated by opioid peptides. Accordingly, intracellular recordings were obtained from lumbar motoneurons of acute decerebrate cats during carbachol-induced motor inhibition while an opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone, was microiontophoretically released next to the recorded cells. Naloxone reversibly reduced by 26% the mean amplitude of NRGc-evoked IPSPs (1.9+/-0.2 mV (S.E.M.) vs. 1.4+/-0.2 mV; n=11, control and naloxone, respectively, p<0.05), but had no effect on the other waveform parameters of these IPSPs (e.g., latency-to-onset, latency-to-peak, duration, etc.). The mean resting membrane potential, input resistance and membrane time constant of motoneurons following naloxone ejection were not statistically different from those of the control. These data indicate that opioid peptides have a modulatory effect on NRGc-evoked IPSPs during carbachol-induced motor inhibition. We therefore suggest that endogenous opioid peptides may act as neuromodulators to regulate inhibitory glycinergic synaptic transmission at motoneurons during active sleep.

Cholinergic neurons of the dorsal pontine tegmentum projecting to the cerebellar vermal cortex of the kitten

Although the whole cerebellar cortex receives cholinergic afferents, the source of origin of this projection has been clarified only for some corticocerebellar regions. Experiments were performed in kittens to investigate whether the two major cholinergic groups of the brainstem, the pedunculopontine (PPT) and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei (LDT), contribute to the cholinergic innervation of the cerebellar cortex, in particular the vermal cortex. Tegmento-cerebellar projecting neurons were identified by injecting the retrograde tracer rhodamine-labeled latex microspheres in the lobules V to VII of the cerebellar vermis. Subsequently, some of these tegmento-cerebellar neurons were demonstrated to be cholinergic by using the immunohistochemical technique for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Only a small portion of the ChAT-positive tegmental neurons projected to the cerebellar vermis. However, among the whole population of the retrogradely labeled tegmental neurons about one third were cholinergic. These cholinergic tegmento-cerebellar neurons were located in the PPT, LDT, and also within the locus coeruleus (LC) complex, where noradrenergic neurons predominate. Since the LC complex sends noradrenergic afferents to the cerebellar cortex, it appears that the dorsal pontine area contributes to the tegmento-cerebellar projections not only with noradrenergic but also with cholinergic afferents. The physiological significance of this cholinergic projection to the cerebellar cortex has been discussed.

Dorsal spinocerebellar tract neurons are not subjected to postsynaptic inhibition during carbachol-induced motor inhibition

Dorsal spinocerebellar tract (DSCT) neurons in Clarke's column in the lumbar spinal cord of cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose were recorded intracellularly. The membrane potential activity and electrophysiological properties of these neurons were examined before and during the state of active-sleep-like motor inhibition induced by the injection of carbachol into the nucleus pontis oralis. The synaptic activity of DSCT neurons during carbachol-induced motor inhibition did not change compared with that during control conditions. In particular, there was an absence of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in high-gain recordings from DSCT neurons and the resting membrane potential of DSCT neurons was not significantly hyperpolarized during carbachol-induced motor inhibition. The mean amplitude of both monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials and disynaptic IPSPs evoked in DSCT neurons following stimulation of group I muscle afferents after the injection of carbachol was similar to that evoked before the injection of carbachol. There were no significant changes in the mean input resistance and membrane time constant of DSCT neurons during carbachol-induced motor inhibition. We conclude that, in contrast to lumbar motoneurons, DSCT neurons in Clarke's column are not postsynaptically inhibited during carbachol-induced motor inhibition. Therefore the population of spinal cord Ib interneurons that inhibit both DSCT neurons and lumbar motoneurons is not likely to be the interneurons that are responsible for the postsynaptic inhibition of motoneurons that occurs during carbachol-induced motor inhibition. The present findings also indicate that transmission through the DSCT is not modulated by postsynaptic inhibition at the level of DSCT neurons during carbachol-induced motor inhibition.

Electrophysiological properties of lumbar motoneurons in the alpha-chloralose-anesthetized cat during carbachol-induced motor inhibition

The present study was undertaken 1) to examine the neuronal mechanisms responsible for the inhibition of spinal cord motoneurons that occurs in alpha-chloralose-anesthetized cats following the microinjection of carbachol into the nucleus pontis oralis (NPO), and 2) to determine whether the inhibitory mechanisms are the same as those that are responsible for the postsynaptic inhibition of motoneurons that is present during naturally occurring active sleep. Accordingly, the basic electrophysiological properties of lumbar motoneurons were examined, with the use of intracellular recording techniques, in cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose and compared with those present during naturally occurring active sleep. The intrapontine administration of carbachol resulted in a sustained reduction in the amplitude of the spinal cord Ia monosynaptic reflex. Discrete large-amplitude inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs), which are only present during the state of active sleep in the chronic cat, were also observed in high-gain recordings from lumbar motoneurons after the injection of carbachol. During carbachol-induced motor inhibition, lumbar motoneurons exhibited a statistically significant decrease in input resistance, membrane time constant and a reduction in the amplitude of the action potential's afterhyperpolarization. In addition, there was a statistically significant increase in rheobase and in the delay between the initial-segment (IS) and somadendritic (SD) portions of the action potential (IS-SD delay). There was a significant increase in the mean motoneuron resting membrane potential (i.e., hyperpolarization). The preceding changes in the electrophysiological properties of motoneurons, as well as the development of discrete IPSPs, indicate that lumbar motoneurons are postsynaptically inhibited after the intrapontine administration of carbachol in cats that are anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. These changes in the electrophysiological properties of lumbar motoneurons were found to be comparable with those that take place during the atonia of active (rapid-eye-movement) sleep in chronic cats. The present results support the conclusion that the neural system that is responsible for motor inhibition during naturally occurring active sleep can also be activated in alpha-chloralose-anesthetized cats following the injection of carbachol into the NPO.

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Enantiomeric Composition of Abuse Drugs

Numerous commonly abused drugs exist in two enantiomeric forms. Identifying the exact enantiomeric form is essential when only one of these two enantiomers is a controlled substance. Enantiomeric composition data may also help the investigation of clandestine laboratory activities. Although generally not as convenient as gas chromatographic methods, liquid chromatographic methods (LC) allow for the selection of larger and hopefully more effective derivatizing groups and the use of an "active" mobile phase. LC-based enantiomeric resolution approaches include derivatization with chiral agents, incorporation of chiral additives in the mobile phase, and the use of chiral stationary phases. Various applications of these approaches are reviewed.Unique detection procedures that were adopted in enantiomeric analysis are also reviewed.

Cell size and geometry of spinal cord motoneurons in the adult cat following the intramuscular injection of adriamycin: comparison with data from aged cats

Adriamycin (ADM), an antineoplastic antibiotic, when injected intramuscularly, is taken up by motoneuron axonal terminals and retrogradely transported to the motoneuron soma where it exerts its neurotoxic effect. In the present study, ADM was injected into the hindlimb muscles of five adult cats. Measurements of the electrophysiological properties of the lumbar motoneurons innervating these muscles were obtained using intracellular techniques. Based upon these data the equivalent cylinder model of motoneurons was employed to evaluate ADM-induced changes in cell size and cell geometry. The size of cell somas in the ventral horn was also measured using light microscopy and computer imaging software. There were significant increases in the membrane time constant (25%) and input resistance (50%) in motoneurons whose muscles were treated with ADM (ADM-MNs) compared with data from control motoneurons (control-MNs). The increase in membrane time constant is attributed to an increase in membrane resistance; the increase in input resistance appears to depend upon both an increase in membrane resistance and a decrease in total cell surface area. Cell capacitance, which is proportional to the total cell surface area, was significantly reduced (15%) in ADM-MNs. Calculations based on cable theory indicate that while there was no significant change in the length of the equivalent cylinder for ADM-MNs, there was a significant decrease (17%) in the diameter of the equivalent cylinder. These data indicate that there is a decrease in total cell surface area which can be attributed to the shrinkage of branches throughout the dendritic tree. There was also a small (7%) but statistically significant decrease in the electrotonic length of ADM-MNs. Morphological analysis also revealed that the mean cross-sectional area of the somas of those ventral horn neurons which are likely to correspond to the motoneuron population was significantly reduced on the ADM-treated side compared to that of neurons on the control side. We conclude that significant geometrical changes were induced in lumbar motoneurons of adult cats after ADM was injected to their muscles. In old cats, spinal cord motoneurons exhibit similar patterns of changes in their electrophysiological characteristics which have also been suggested to be correlated with changes in cell geometry. The question then arises as to whether the response of motoneurons to ADM and the aging process reflects a stereotypic reaction of motoneurons to a variety of insults or whether the response to ADM mirrors specific aspects of the aging process.

Age-related changes in soma size of neurons in the spinal cord motor column of the cat

The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of the aging process on the soma size and number of motoneurons and interneurons in the motor column of the spinal cord of old cats. Neurons in the motor column were divided into small and large populations based on a bimodal distribution of their soma cross-sectional areas. A 17% decrease in the cross-sectional area of small neurons was observed, this decrease was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The cross-sectional area of large neurons decreased by only 6%, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the number of large, small or of these combined population of ventral horn neurons in the aged cats compared with the control animals. This data suggest that neurons in the motor column are not uniformly affected by the aging process because morphological changes are proportionally greater in small neurons than in large neurons.

State-dependent phenomena in cat masseter motoneurons

In the present study we explored the mechanisms of carbachol-induced muscle atonia in the alpha-chloralose-anesthetized animal. We compared our findings to those that have been previously obtained in unanesthetized cats during muscle atonia occurring during natural active sleep. Accordingly, in cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose, intracellular records were obtained from masseter motoneurons before and after carbachol-induced motor atonia. Following the induction of atonia, the membrane potential activity was dominated by high-frequency, discrete, hyperpolarizing potentials. These hyperpolarizing potentials were reversed in polarity by the intracellular injection of chloride ions and abolished by the application of strychnine. These findings indicate that they were inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) mediated by glycine. These IPSPs appeared exclusively during muscle atonia. In addition, masseter motoneurons were significantly hyperpolarized and their rheobase increased. There was a decrease in input resistance and membrane time constant. In the alpha-chloralose-anesthetized preparation, stimulation of the nucleus pontis oralis (NPO) induced IPSPs in masseter motoneurons following, but never prior to, the pontine injection of carbachol. Thus, this is the first demonstration that "reticular response-reversal' may be elicited in an anesthetized preparation. Another state-dependent phenomenon of active sleep, the occurrence of IPSPs in motoneurons that are temporally correlated with ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves, was also observed in this preparation only after carbachol administration. Based on the data in this report, we conclude that the inhibitory system that mediates atonia during the state of active sleep can be activated in an animal that is anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. Specifically, the neuronal groups that generate spontaneous IPSPs, those that mediate the phenomenon of reticular response-reversal, and those involved in the generation of PGO waves are capable of being activated and remain functional during alpha-chloralose-anesthesia.

Changes in the electrophysiological properties of cat spinal motoneurons following the intramuscular injection of adriamycin compared with changes in the properties of motoneurons in aged cats

1. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of adriamycin (ADM, Doxorubicin) on the basic electrophysiological properties of spinal cord motoneurons in the adult cat. ADM was injected into the biceps, gastrocnemius, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus muscles of the left hindlimb (1.2 mg per muscle). Intracellular recordings from motoneurons innervating these muscles were carried out 12, 20, or 40 days after ADM administration and from corresponding motoneurons in untreated control cats. 2. Twelve days after ADM injection, motoneurons innervating ADM-treated muscles (ADM MNs) exhibited statistically significant increases in input resistance, membrane time constant, and amplitude of the action potential's afterhyperpolarization (AHP). In addition, there was a statistically significant decrease in rheobase and in the delay between the action potential of the initial segment (IS) and that of the somadendritic (SD) portion of the motoneuron (IS-SD delay). There were no significant changes in the resting membrane potential, threshold depolarization, action potential amplitude, or axonal conduction velocity. 3. The changes in electrical properties of motoneurons at 20 and 40 days after ADM injection were qualitatively similar to those observed at 12 days. However, at 40 days after ADM injection there was a statistically significant decrease in the axonal conduction velocity of the ADM MNs. 4. The normal correlations that are present between the AHP duration and electrical properties of the control motoneurons were observed in the ADM MNs, e.g., AHP duration was positively correlated with the input resistance and time constant and negatively correlated with the axonal conduction velocity. The correlation coefficients, however, were reduced in comparison with the control data. 5. This study demonstrates that ADM exerts significant effects on the electrical properties of motoneurons when injected into their target muscles. The majority of the changes in motoneuron electrical properties caused by ADM resemble those observed in motoneurons of aged cats. Additional research is required to determine whether the specific changes induced in motoneurons by ADM and those that occur in motoneurons in old age are due to similar degradative mechanisms.

Selecting an appropriate isotopic internal standard for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of drugs of abuse--pentobarbital example

Internal standards are commonly used for the quantitative determination of drugs of abuse and their metabolites (drug/metabolite) in biological fluids and tissues by the selective ion monitoring (SIM) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) procedure. Analogs of drugs/metabolites that are labeled with three or more deuterium atoms (isotopic analog) at appropriate positions are considered to be the most effective internal standards for these applications. Before a specific deuterated analog can be adopted as an internal standard in a GC/MS assay, the mass spectrum of the compound or its derivative must be evaluated along with the corresponding spectrum from the parent drug/metabolite. There should be an adequate number of sufficiently high-mass ions (typically three for the drug/metabolite and two for the isotopic analog) that can be attributed to each analyte, and these ions should be sufficiently free of interference from the other analyte of the pair (cross-contribution). Interferences may be caused by the presence of an isotopic impurity in the deuterated analog (extrinsic factor) or may be due to the ion fragmentation characteristics of the compound (intrinsic factor). The extrinsic factor may be corrected by the manufacturer with different synthetic methods and purification procedures, while the intrinsic factor may be partially or wholly corrected through the use of different chemical derivatives (sample preparation stage) or different ionization (GC/MS assay stage) procedures. In this study, pentobarbital/d5-pentobarbital is used as the exemplar analyte/deuterated analog pair to illustrate the ion selection and evaluation procedures. Full-scan mass spectra were employed for preliminary ion selection. SIM data were then used to calculate the extent, if any, of cross-contributions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Potential genotoxicity of chronically elevated nitric oxide: a review

Several human cancers are associated with chronic bacterial, viral and parasitic infections. Nitric oxide, which is a short-lived free radical produced by many types of cells for a number of important physiological functions, is elevated in these infections. Long-term exposure to elevated NO. in cells could have potential genotoxic effects on hosts. There are at least three mechanisms by which intracellular elevated NO. could exert genotoxic affects after reacting with O2. These include formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds, direct deamination of DNA bases, and oxidation of DNA after formation of peroxynitrite and/or hydroxyl radicals. One or more of these mechanisms could, theoretically, explain why chronic infection increases the risk of certain cancers.

Localization of glutamatergic neurons in the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum projecting to the spinal cord of the cat with a proposed role of glutamate on lumbar motoneuron activity

Glutamate is considered to be a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The presence of glutamate-like immunoreactive neurons in the rodent locus coeruleus has been reported previously. In this study we used both immunohistochemical and electrophysiological techniques to answer two major questions: (1) Is there any glutamate-like immunoreactivity in the catecholaminergic coeruleospinal system of the cat? (2) What is the physiological role, if any, of glutamate in descending locus coeruleus control of spinal motoneurons? Following injections of rhodamine-labeled latex microspheres or Fast Blue into the seventh lumbar segment of the spinal cord of the cat, retrogradely labeled cells were found throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum. They were primarily observed in the nucleus locus coeruleus and the Kolliker-Fuse nucleus. Some labeled cells were also present in the nucleus subcoeruleus and, to a lesser extent, in the parabrachial nuclei. Data from immunohistochemical studies indicate that 86% of all dorsolateral pontine tegmentum neurons that project to the spinal cord contain glutamate-like immunoreactivity, and 77% co-contain both glutamate- and tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactivity. Electrical stimulation (four pulses of 500 microseconds duration at 500 Hz; intensity = 50-200 microA) of the locus coeruleus, in decerebrate cats, consistently induced lumbar motoneuron discharges recordable ipsilaterally as ventral root responses. These motoneuronal responses were reversibly antagonized following chemical inactivation of noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons by local infusion of the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist clonidine, suggesting the locus coeruleus neurons to be the main source of evoked ventral root responses. Additionally, the evoked ventral root responses were reversibly reduced by 34.20 +/- 4.45% (mean +/- S.E.M.) upon intraspinal injections of the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, into the ventral horn of seventh lumbar spinal cord segment (three to four injections, 20 nmol in 0.2 microliter of 0.1 M Tris-buffered saline for each injection). Similar volumes of vehicle injections had no significant effect on the locus coeruleus-evoked ventral root responses. These ventral root responses were also partially blocked (62.30 +/- 11.76%) by intravenous administration of the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin (20 micrograms/kg). In the light of several anatomical reports of noradrenergic and glutamatergic terminals in close contact with spinal motoneurons, our present findings suggest that the locus coeruleus-evoked ventral root response probably involves the synaptic release of both norepinephrine and glutamate onto lumbar motoneurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen induces nitric oxide synthesis in hepatocytes: possible role in hepatocarcinogenesis

Woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen (WHsAg) stimulated hepatocytes in culture to produce nitric oxide (NO.), as evidenced by the accumulation of nitrite in the medium. NO. synthesis by hepatocytes was positively correlated with WHsAg concentration. WHsAg-induced NO. synthesis was inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and anti-WHsAg antibody. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an increase in NO. formation by a viral antigen. These data, when considered in the light of the known genotoxicity of NO., raise the possibility that viral hepatitis increases the risk of liver cancer by increasing the production of NO.. Long-term elevated production of NO. free radicals due to stimulation by WHsAg in chronic hepatitis may directly cause reactions with cellular DNA leading to mutagenesis, as well as the formation of hepatocarcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. This provides a new mechanism by which hepatitis B virus infection might hypothetically increase the risk of liver cancer.

Improved gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of barbiturates in urine using centrifuge-based solid-phase extraction, methylation, with d5-pentobarbital as internal standard

Effective solid-phase extraction, derivatization, and GC/MS procedures are developed for the simultaneous determinations of butalbital, amobarbital, pentobarbital, and secobarbital, using a deuterated pentobarbital (d5-pentobarbital) as the internal standard. Buffered (pH 7) urine samples were extracted with Bond Elute Certify II cartridge. Iodomethane/tetramethylammonium hydroxide in dimethylsulfoxide was used for methylation, while a HP 5970 MSD equipped with a 13 m J & W DB-5 column (5% phenyl polysiloxane phase) and the Thru-Put Target software package were used for GC/MS analysis and data processing. This protocol was found to be superior, in both chromatographic performance characteristics and quantitation results, over a liquid-liquid extraction procedure without derivatization using hexobarbital as the internal standard. Extraction recoveries observed from control samples containing four barbiturates range from 80% to 90%. Good one-point calibration data are obtained for all four barbiturates in the 50 to 3200 ng/mL range. Interestingly, the one-point calibration data for pentobarbital are inferior to the other three barbiturates--due to interference from the internal standard (d5-pentobarbital). The calibration data of pentobarbital are best described by a hyperbolic curve regression model. Precision data (% CV) for GC/MS analysis, over-all procedure, and day-to-day performance are approximately 2.0%, 6.0%, and 8.0%, respectively. With the use of a 2 mL sample size, the attainable detection limit is approximately 20 ng/mL.

Anatomical evidence for the presence of glutamate or enkephalin in noradrenergic projection neurons of the locus coeruleus

This paper reviews the anatomical evidence for the presence of glutamate (GLU) in noradrenergic neurons of the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) and adjacent nuclei in the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum (DLPT) that project to the spinal cord, cerebellum, or cerebral cortex. Additionally, the evidence for the existence of methionine-enkephalin (ENK) in noradrenergic neurons of the DLPT that project to the spinal cord of the cat is reviewed. In these studies, we have combined the retrograde transport of either Fast Blue (FB), rhodamine labeled latex microspheres (MS), or rhodamine labeled dextran and indirect immunofluorescence histochemistry to determine whether the neurons that contain tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and project to these terminal fields also contain GLU or ENK. The neurons of the cat that project to the spinal cord, cerebellum, and neocortex were observed in the nucleus LC and Kölliker-Fuse (KF) nucleus. They were also present, to a lesser extent, in the nucleus subcoeruleus (SC) and nuclei parabrachialis medialis (PBM) and lateralis (PBL). In the rat the majority of the neurons that project to the neocortex and hippocampus were located in the nucleus LC. Our data revealed a major proportion of these neurons to be immunostained for both GLU and TH (cat, rat), or ENK and TH (cat). Functional implications of such colocalized neurochemicals within individual LC projection neurons are discussed.

Comparison of Common Immunoassay Kits for Effective Application in Workplace Drug Urinalysis

Workplace drug urinalysis protocols include an initial immunoassay followed by a confirmation gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) test of immunoassay-positive samples. (Drug categories that are commonly tested include: amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, lysergic acid diethyl amide, methadone, methaqualone, opiates, phencyclidine, and propoxyphene. Not all drug categories are tested by all workplace drug urinalysis programs.) Only those samples that are tested positive by both the initial and the confirmatory procedures can be reported as positive. Thus, when adopting an immunoassay, one must have knowledge of the assay's cross-reacting characteristics and the assay's apparent analyze concentration that corresponds to a specific analyze concentration determined by the GC/MS procedure. The underlying principles of the commonly used radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, fluorescence polarization immunoassay, and particle immunoassay are outlined. Cross-reacting characteristics of these immunoassays as reported by the manufacturers and independent laboratories are tabulated. This information shown that commercial immunoassay kits for drug categories that are included in workplace drug urinalysis programs are generally more specific than those kits that are for clinical use only. Furthermore, recently manufactured immunoassay kits targeted for use in workplace drug urinalysis programs are more specific than those manufactured earlier. Reported effects of adulterants, such as salt, cleaning agents, etc., on commonly used immunoassays are summarized. Without more comprehensive and systematic studies, it is difficult to make general statements concerning the superiority of one methodology over the others. It is clear, however, that cannabinoid assesses are most susceptible to the influence of adulterants. Reported immunoassay-GC/MS correlation data are reviewed. Significant correlations exist in all cases. The immunoassay apparent analyze concentration corresponding to a specific GC/MS analyze concentration may be approximately based on the resulting regression equations. Since the corresponding immunoassay apparent analyze concentrations vary with the specificities of the reagent used, the immunoassay reagent manufacturers should carefully study specificity characteristics of each manufacturing batch and provide these correlation data for users' evaluation and adaptation.

Characterization and immortalization of woodchuck hepatocytes isolated from normal and hepadnavirus-infected woodchucks (Marmota monax)

Primary woodchuck (Marmota monax) hepatocytes from normal woodchucks and woodchucks with chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection were cultured in either a conventional serum-containing medium or a serum-free medium. The de novo synthesis of the plasma proteins albumin, transferrin, fibrinogen, and complement C3 were identical under both conditions. However, expression of the WHV and the synthesis of nitric oxide were diminished under serum-free conditions. Primary woodchuck hepatocytes cultured in conventional, serum-containing medium were immortalized utilizing the simian virus 40 T antigen oncogene. Immortalized hepatic cell lines retained differentiated functions of nitric oxide synthesis and expression of complement C3. The woodchuck hepatocyte culture model will supplement current experimental methods, allowing investigation of hepadnaviral pathogenesis, including hepatocarcinogenesis in vitro.

Selection of an appropriate initial test cutoff concentration for workplace drug urinalysis--Cannabis example

Apparent analyte concentration (equivalent of 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid [9-THC-COOH]) obtained by radioimmunoassay (RIA) for cannabinoids using reagents manufactured at four different periods (from the same manufacturer) and specific 9-THC-COOH concentration as determined by GC/MS are examined for the significance of their correlation. The resulting regression equations are then used to estimate the apparent RIA analyte concentrations of reagents manufactured at different time periods that are equivalent to a specific 9-THC-COOH concentration. Correlation coefficients of the regression analysis improve from approximately 0.4 to 0.7 in parallel with the increasing reagent specificity. The apparent RIA analyte concentrations that correspond to 15 ng/mL 9-THC-COOH decrease from about 110 to 50 ng/mL again in parallel with the increasing reagent specificity. These findings empirically demonstrate that reagent specificity is the determining factor of the resulting apparent RIA analyte concentration when testing samples that contain 9-THC-COOH and other metabolites (derived from marijuana exposure). Thus, if the 9-THC-COOH concentration as determined by GC/MS is of primary concern, the initial test cutoff concentration should be adjusted in accordance with the specificity of the reagent used.

Bulbospinal neurons of the cat that co-contain serotonin and methionine enkephalin

The present study utilizes a combined retrograde transport of Fast Blue (or rhodamine-labeled latex microspheres) and simultaneous immunofluorescence technique to demonstrate directly the coexistence of serotonin and methionine enkephalin in bulbospinal neurons of the cat. The bulbospinal neurons that immunostained for both serotonin and enkephalin were observed, without any distinct somatotopic organization, in the nuclei raphe pallidus, obscurus and magnus. They were also observed in the nucleus reticularis magnocellularis and the ventrolateral medulla (cell group B1/3). Among the bulbospinal neurons encountered within individual 5-HT-rich medullary nuclei, high proportions of these neurons co-containing serotonin and methionine enkephalin were evidenced in the nucleus raphe obscurus (64%) and nucleus raphe pallidus (56%), less so in cell group B1/3 (41%), nucleus raphe magnus (39%), and the nucleus reticularis magnocellularis (29%). Physiological significance of such a morphological substrate is discussed.

Hippocampal beta-amyloid reduces locus coeruleus glutamate and tyrosine hydroxylase

The effects of intrahippocampally injected beta-amyloid protein (beta-AP) on glutamate- (Glu) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-like immunoreactivities in the neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) were studied in rats. A synthetic peptide or the vehicle alone was injected into the hippocampus as controls. All injections were made once a week (two or three injections; 3 nmol in 2 microliters of distilled water). Fluorescent microspheres (either alone or with one of the peptides) were also injected into the hippocampus to identify coeruleo-hippocampal neurons. The results revealed cell loss in the hippocampus at the site near beta-AP or control peptide deposition. Furthermore, in beta-AP/microsphere injected animals, only 22.4% and 49.6% of hippocampal projection neurons contained Glu and TH, respectively, compared to 88.4% and 85.3% in the animals that received control peptide with microspheres. Our results suggest that beta-AP has an effect on noradrenergic cells whose axons project to the hippocampus. These effects may contribute to the TH cell loss in the LC of Alzheimer's brains.

Cotransmitter-mediated locus coeruleus action on motoneurons

This article reviews evidence for a direct noradrenergic projection from the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum (DLPT) to spinal motoneurons. The existence of this direct pathway was first inferred by the observation that antidromically evoked responses occur in single cells in the locus coeruleus (LC), a region within the DLPT, following electrical stimulation of the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord of the cat. We subsequently confirmed that there is a direct noradrenergic pathway from the LC and adjacent regions of the DLPT to the lumbar ventral horn using anatomical studies that combined retrograde tracing with immunohistochemical identification of neurotransmitters. These anatomical studies further revealed that many of the noradrenergic neurons in the LC and adjacent regions of the DLPT of the cat that send projections to the spinal cord ventral horn also contain colocalized glutamate (Glu) or enkephalin (ENK). Recent studies from our laboratory suggest that Glu and ENK may function as cotransmitters with norepinephrine (NE) in the descending pathway from the DLPT. Electrical stimulation of the LC evokes a depolarizing response in spinal motoneurons that is only partially blocked by alpha 1 adrenergic antagonists. In addition, NE mimicks only the slowly developing and not the fast component of LC-evoked depolarization. Furthermore, the depolarization evoked by LC stimulation is accompanied by a decrease in membrane resistance, whereas that evoked by NE is accompanied by an increased resistance. That Glu may be a second neurotransmitter involved in LC excitation of motoneurons is supported by our observation that the excitatory response evoked in spinal cord ventral roots by electrical stimulation of the LC is attenuated by a non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamatergic antagonist. ENK may participate as a cotransmitter with NE to mediate LC effects on lumbar monosynaptic reflex (MSR) amplitude. Electrical stimulation of the LC has a biphasic effect on MSR amplitude, facilitation followed by inhibition. Adrenergic antagonists block only the facilitator effect of LC stimulation on MSR amplitude, whereas the ENK antagonist naloxone reverses the inhibition. The chemical heterogeneity of the cat DLPT system and the differential responses of motoneurons to the individual cotransmitters help to explain the diversity of postsynaptic potentials that occur following LC stimuli.

Existence of glutamate in noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons of rodents

This study distinguished three types of immunolabeled neurons in nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) of the rat and mouse: cells single labeled either for tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactivity (TH-LI) or glutamate (Glu)-LI, and those double labeled for both antigens. Although the double labeled neurons tend to be located in the middle and ventral thirds of the rat LC nucleus, throughout its rostrocaudal extent, such feature was not apparent in the mouse. Quantitatively a majority of neurons cocontaining TH- and Glu-LI were commonly observed in the rat (62%) and mouse (77%) LC. Additional studies utilizing the combined retrograde and immunohistochemical labeling revealed that such a high incidence of coexistence of the TH- and Glu-LI was also represented by coeruleocortical neurons in the rat (69% and 75% of all ipsilateral and contralateral projection cells, respectively). A possible role of coeruleocortical neurons involvement in Glu- and norepinephrine-mediated target neuron dysfunction is discussed.

Immunohistochemical localization of glutamate-containing neurons in the lateral reticular nucleus projecting to the cerebellar vermis in the kitten

The lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) and afferents to the cerebellum are known to contain glutamate-like immunoreactive (Glu-LI) neurons and axons, respectively. However, such a direct link between the Glu-LI LRN neurons and the cerebellar vermal cortex has not been identified. In this study we have combined the retrograde transport of rhodamine labeled latex microspheres and immunofluorescence histochemistry to determine the locations of Glu-LI neurons of the kitten reticulocerebellar system. Following microsphere injections into the cerebellar vermis (lobules V-VII), retrogradely labeled neurons were encountered throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the LRN. More than 60% (n = 3 kittens) of these retrogradely labeled neurons were immunostained for Glu-like immunoreactivity. Our observations of the Glu-like immunoreactivity in a majority of the reticulocerebellar neurons suggest that Glu in these neurons may participate in LRN's control of target neuron activities in the cerebellar vermis of kittens.

Synthesis of nitric oxide and nitrosamine by immortalized woodchuck hepatocytes

Woodchuck (Marmota monax) hepatic cells, which were immortalized by the simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV40 Tag) produced nitric oxide (NO; measured as nitrite) in vitro from L-arginine (L-Arg) after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. NO synthesis was related to L-Arg and LPS concentration and plateaued at 1.0 mM L-Arg and 1.0 microgram/ml LPS. LPS-stimulated cells nitrosated morpholine to form N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) in the presence of L-Arg at pH 7.4. NMOR production increased 7-fold in LPS stimulated cells compared to unstimulated hepatocytes. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) was detected in the cell culture medium in the presence of LPS and L-Arg but without added dimethylamine. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, inhibited formation of NO and NMOR, indicating that NO and nitrosating agents were formed via the L-Arg-nitric oxide pathway. These data are the first to report NO and N-nitrosamine production by immortalized hepatocytes and confirm earlier work showing that primary hepatocytes form NO in culture. This suggests that hepatic formation of N-nitroso compounds and/or NO could be an etiologic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma. Immortalized woodchuck hepatic cells may be useful as in vitro models to study the L-Arg-nitric oxide pathway and its possible role in liver carcinogenesis.

Application of Serological and DNA Methods for the Identification of Urine Specimen Donors

Recent implementation of urine drug-screening policies in the workplace has resulted in an increase in the submission of substituted urine specimens. Donor verification of urine specimens often becomes necessary when the origin of a specimen is in question or when a positive drug test is contested. Methods reported for the identification of the urine donor include the analysis of blood group antigenic substances (ABH and Lewis systems), polymorphic proteins (group-specific component, haptoglobin, and orosomucoid), and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Since the concentrations of the antigenic substances and polymorphic proteins in urine are typically low, most serological procedures adapt a concentration step enhancing the presence of these substances in the resulting residue by a factor ranging from 100 to 3,000. Conventional (and a two-dimensional) absorption-inhibition and electrophoresis procedures can then be applied to characterize the antigenic substances and polymorphic proteins. Recently developed DNA methodologies have also evolved to help characterize urine specimens and often provide more informative data than those derived from conventional serological approaches. As of this date, the unique nature of urine as the source of genetic markers has not yet been thoroughly explored and understood. Also, many related procedures and statistical data have yet to be empirically established. This state-of-the-art technology cannot yet "fingerprint" a urine specimen at this date. A limited number of investigations do indicate, however, that the combined use of serological and DNA approaches can provide valuable information helping to resolve the donorship issues that are frequently contested in drug urinalysis-related legal proceedings.

Effect of systemic morphine on neurons in the lateral reticular nucleus area of the rat

The present study is undertaken to investigate the effect of systemic morphine on neurons in the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) using extracellular recording techniques. The spontaneous activities of 64 neurons in the LRN area were tested with morphine (3-5 mg/kg, IV). Morphine excited 23 and inhibited 28 neurons tested, and 13 neurons were not affected. Of the 28 neurons inhibited, 20 were identified as nociceptive and the remaining 6 were nonnociceptive. Of the 23 neurons excited by morphine, 18 were nociceptive and 5 were nonociceptive. Systemic naloxone (0.3-0.5 mg/kg) significantly reversed the morphine effect in 15 out of 19 neurons excited and 19 out of 20 neurons inhibited by morphine. Thirteen out of 64 neurons were further identified as reticulospinal neurons, of which four were excited and four were inhibited by morphine. The remaining five were not affected. The results demonstrate that a similar proportion of neurons in the LRN area were either excited or inhibited by systemic morphine, and the majority of them are nociceptive neurons. It is suggested that different types of neurons in the LRN area may have different functions in morphine analgesia.

Evaluation of enzyme immunoassay performance characteristics--phencyclidine example

Four reagent formulations (three provided by a manufacturer; one prepared in-house by mixing equal volumes of two commercial reagents) are used for the assay of phencyclidine (PCP) in urine samples. Performance characteristics evaluated included assay precision and sensitivity at and near the assay cutoff concentration. Data resulting from the reagent prepared in-house are better than those using then commercially available formulations, and are comparable with those obtained using the recently available new commercial formulation.

Selective blockade by yohimbine of descending spinal inhibition from lateral reticular nucleus but not from locus coeruleus in rats

The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine on inhibition of C-fiber-evoked responses of dorsal horn neurons produced by electrical stimulation of the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) and the Locus coeruleus (LC) in the rat. In the majority of neurons, C-fiber-evoked responses were significantly inhibited by 53.84 +/- 5.02% and 57.63 +/- 5.79% of control by LRN and LC stimulation, respectively, whereas in less than half of the neurons, A-fiber-evoked responses were reduced by 20.99 +/- 6.06% and 21.78 +/- 4.48% of control, respectively. After systemic or spinal administration of yohimbine, LC-induced inhibition of C-fiber-evoked responses was not affected. In contrast, LRN-induced inhibition was markedly attenuated by yohimbine. The results suggest that alpha 2-adrenoceptors may be involved in mediation of inhibition of spinal nociception induced by stimulation of LRN but not by LC.

Nitrite and nitrosamine synthesis by hepatocytes isolated from normal woodchucks (Marmota monax) and woodchucks chronically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus

Hepatocytes isolated from woodchucks (Marmota monax) were shown to produce nitrite in vitro from L-arginine after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Hepatocytes isolated from woodchucks that were chronic carriers of woodchuck hepatitis virus formed twice as much nitrite as hepatocytes from noninfected animals. Nitrite synthesis by hepatocytes was directly related to L-arginine and LPS concentrations in the tissue culture medium and reached a plateau at 0.5 mM L-arginine and 1.0 micrograms/ml LPS. LPS-stimulated hepatocytes nitrosated morpholine to form N-nitrosomorpholine in the presence of L-arginine at a physiological pH of 7.4. There was a 10-fold increase in N-nitrosomorpholine production when hepatocytes were stimulated with LPS compared to unstimulated hepatocytes under similar conditions when both nitrite and morpholine were directly added to the medium. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, inhibited formation of both nitrite and N-nitrosomorpholine. These results demonstrate that nitrosating agents are formed in hepatocytes via the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway. This suggests that endogenous formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds could influence the process of hepatocarcinogenesis in woodchucks with chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus infection.

Important Considerations in the Interpretation of Forensic Urine Drug Test Results

With sound analytical methodology, good laboratory practice, and intact specimen chain-of-custody, test result interpretation is the final element dictating the action to be taken following drug urinalysis. From a technical viewpoint, false test results may be reported as a result of adulteration, including the alteration of metabolic process through the intentional use of foreign material, or the outright addition of adulterants to specimens. Unintended exposure through contact or inhalation may result in the detection of targeted drug analytes at low levels, while the use of certain licit food and medicinal items, such as a salad dressing, a bagel containing poppy seeds, and Tylenol® III, may produce positive results using commonly reporting cutoff levels. For those specimens that test positively, the following factors should be considered when interpreting the meaning of a quantitative result: analyte stability, urine water content, and time lapse between drug exposure and specimen collection.

Left ventricular opacification after peripheral venous injection of a modified albumin solution

The usefulness of a modified albumin solution was assessed in 8 dogs after peripheral venous and inferior vena cava injections. The contrast agent is a mixed solution made of glucose, albumin and glycerin, with sonicated microbubble diameter of 5.0 +/- 2.3 microns. Multiple injections (8 ml each) of this contrast agent (total 80 injections) into peripheral vein and inferior cava were performed. The blood pressure from femoral artery was measured before, during and after injections. Two-dimensional echocardiograms were recorded in a modified long axis view on videotapes for play back analysis. The pulmonary transit time and left ventricular contrast persistent time was determined for each injection. The videodensity of the region of interest (ROI) at the center of right ventricle and left ventricle was measured. The background videodensity of both ventricles was evaluated. The videodensity over the ROI of both ventricles with peak contrast enhancement was measured in all frames for 3 consecutive cardiac cycles. The peak videodensity of right and left ventricle subtracting the background videodensity of each ventricles was further calculated respectively. The injections caused no change in blood pressure or heart rate. All injections produced right ventricular contrast echo. As much as 85% of peripheral venous and 82.5% of inferior vena cava injections resulted in left ventricular contrast which was 0.68 and 0.65 as bright as that produced in the right ventricle. Pulmonary transit time and left ventricle contrast persistent time of peripheral venous injection was 4.05 +/- 0.53 and 13.67 +/- 4.28 seconds respectively. No difference of these data (3.93 +/- 0.47 and 11.65 +/- 4.66 seconds) from those produced by inferior vena cava injections were noted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sample Differentiation: Cocaine Example

Since the analyses of drug samples in crime laboratories are often associated with investigations, potential differentiations of test samples are frequently requested and explored. Cocaine sample differentiation requires the determination of synthetic or natural origin. Synthetic samples are characterized by the presence of optical isomers, certain diastereoisomers and other by-products, and chemical residues used in synthesis. Samples derived from a natural origin (coca leaves) are characterized by the presence of certain natural products or their derivatives that are carried through the overall process and by residual chemicals reflecting the treatment procedures. Various approaches and analytical data available in the literature concerning the differentiation of cocaine samples are reviewed. Each sample must carry its own "signature"; however, true sample "individualization" cannot be accomplished using the technologies commonly available and used in crime laboratories, and is not usually needed. Alternatively, "classifying" cocaine samples in certain categories or groups can be accomplished routinely and often provides adequate information for investigatory purposes.

Enzymatic digestion, solid-phase extraction, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of derivatized intact oxazepam in urine

Enzymatic digestion with beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31) was used to release intact oxazepam from urine samples containing the d5-analog internal standard. The resulting specimens were extracted with Du Pont PREP Type W cartridge (processed by a PREP Automated Sample Processor), Bond Elut Certify, and J.T. Baker "spe" columns for comparison of the columns' extraction recovery and overall effectiveness. Methyl iodide/tetrahexylammonium hydrogen sulfate and N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide/trimethylchlorosilane (10 g/L) were used for the methylation and trimethylsilylation studies. We used a Hewlett-Packard HP 5790 mass-selective detector equipped with a 13-m J & W DB-5 column (5% phenyl polysiloxane phase) for gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis and the Thru-Put Target software package for data processing. After several exploratory experiments, we adopted the Du Pont PREP system methylation procedure because of its effective recovery, the superior stability of the derivatization product, the possibility of incorporating a clean-up step, and the potential for high throughput. The extraction recovery from a set of control samples was 87%. Coefficients of variation obtained for six replicates of GC/MS analysis and for the overall procedure were 1% and 3%, respectively. Excellent linearity was established in the 50-8000 micrograms/L concentration range studied. With the use of 3-mL samples, a 20-microL final reconstitution volume, oxazepam at 50 micrograms/L was easily detected under the adopted operation conditions.

Detection of acute myocardial infarction by evaluation of ultrasonic gray levels in dogs

The study tested whether an experimental myocardial infarction can be detected from two-dimensional echocardiograms (2DE) by analysis of regional gray levels. The mid-left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated for 3 hours in 14 dogs (group 1) and for 5 hours in 6 dogs (group 2). 2DE were performed before, and after 3 and 5 hours of coronary artery ligation. The ultrasonic amplitude of the control and infarcted regions were obtained from digitized 2DE in the short axis view, at the mid-papillary muscle level. The mean gray levels (+/- SD) of the control and infarcted regions were compared during end-diastolic stop frames. After sacrifice, the hearts were cut into 1 cm thick slices and stained with 1% triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) solution. The myocardium was then studied by light microscopy. Computerized tomographic scans were also obtained in vitro from 3 hearts of both groups. There was no difference in mean gray levels of the control region during the experiments. However, in the region of wall motion abnormality (area of infarction), the mean gray levels increased from 49.9 +/- 3.5 (before ligation) to 62.0 +/- 7.4 (after 3 hours of ligation, p less than 0.005) in 10 group 1 dogs, but no differences were seen in mean gray levels (49.6 +/- 3.8 vs 50.4 +/- 4.0) in those without a myocardial infarction in 4 group 1 dogs; gray levels also increased from 50.4 +/- 2.9 (before ligation) to 58.6 +/- 6.1 (after 3 hours of ligation, p less than 0.05) and to 65.0 +/- 4.2 (after 5 hours of ligation, p less than 0.005) in group 2 dogs. The area of left ventricular asynergy corresponded precisely to the area of myocardial infarction, determined by both TTC staining and the computerized tomographic scans. The light microscopy of the infarcted area also demonstrated interstitial edema and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration.

Enzymatic digestion, solid-phase extraction, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of derivatized intact oxazepam in urine

Enzymatic digestion with beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31) was used to release intact oxazepam from urine samples containing the d5-analog internal standard. The resulting specimens were extracted with Du Pont PREP Type W cartridge (processed by a PREP Automated Sample Processor), Bond Elut Certify, and J.T. Baker "spe" columns for comparison of the columns' extraction recovery and overall effectiveness. Methyl iodide/tetrahexylammonium hydrogen sulfate and N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide/trimethylchlorosilane (10 g/L) were used for the methylation and trimethylsilylation studies. We used a Hewlett-Packard HP 5790 mass-selective detector equipped with a 13-m J & W DB-5 column (5% phenyl polysiloxane phase) for gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis and the Thru-Put Target software package for data processing. After several exploratory experiments, we adopted the Du Pont PREP system methylation procedure because of its effective recovery, the superior stability of the derivatization product, the possibility of incorporating a clean-up step, and the potential for high throughput. The extraction recovery from a set of control samples was 87%. Coefficients of variation obtained for six replicates of GC/MS analysis and for the overall procedure were 1% and 3%, respectively. Excellent linearity was established in the 50-8000 micrograms/L concentration range studied. With the use of 3-mL samples, a 20-microL final reconstitution volume, oxazepam at 50 micrograms/L was easily detected under the adopted operation conditions.

Simultaneous analysis of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in urine samples by solid-phase extraction, derivatization, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A rapid and effective solid-phase extraction procedure using Bond Elute Certify bonded silica sorbent cartridges was adopted to extract amphetamine, methamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy) from urine samples. The extract was derivatized with trichloroacetic anhydride prior to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis with selected ion monitoring of the following ions: 190, 91, 188; 204, 91, 202; 162, 135, 202; 194, 123; and 211, 209 for the derivatized amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, d5-amphetamine, and d9-methamphetamine, respectively. The first of the ions listed for each compound was used for quantitation. The compound d5-amphetamine was used as the internal standard for amphetamine, and d9-methamphetamine was used for methamphetamine and MDMA. Results showed a higher than 65% recovery and a reproducibility with less than a 5% coefficient of variation. When a sample size of 2 mL was used, the lowest detectable concentration was about 50 ng/mL, and a near-perfect fit can be obtained (within the 250 to 4000-ng/mL concentration range studied) using a second-order polynomial model.

Elevated formation of nitrate and N-nitrosodimethylamine in woodchucks (Marmota monax) associated with chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus infection

Nitrate balance and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) excretion were studied in woodchucks chronically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV). Twenty-four-h urinary recovery of a bolus dose of [15N]nitrate was 54 +/- 12% in woodchucks. WHV-infected animals formed 3-fold more nitrate endogenously than did control animals (P less than 0.01). Treatment of WHV-infected animals with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide increased nitrate excretion 15-fold, while uninfected animals increased nitrate excretion 4-fold. The endogenous formation of NDMA was higher in WHV-infected woodchucks than in uninfected controls. After administration of L-[15N2]arginine, [15N]nitrate, and [15N]NDMA were detected in urine indicating that arginine is a precursor of biosynthesized nitrate and the hepatocarcinogen NDMA. NDMA probably results from the formation of nitrosating agents during the oxidation of arginine to oxides of nitrogen and citrulline. Woodchucks chronically infected with WHV develop hepatocellular carcinomas with high frequency. Our observations suggest an additional mechanism that may be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with chronic WHV infection.

Termination of digitalis-induced ventricular tachycardias by clonidine involves central alpha 2-adrenoceptors in cats

1. Effects of intravenous (i.v.) and intravertebral arterial (i.a.) administration of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine (Clon) and its antagonist, yohimbine (Yoh, 0.5 mg kg-1, i.v.; 0.05 mg kg-1, i.a.), on ventricular tachycardia (VT) induced by intravenous acetylstrophanthidin (AS) were studied in cats anaesthetized with intraperitoneal chloralose. 2. AS dose-dependently produced cardiac arrhythmias including complete atrioventricular conduction block (118 +/- 14 micrograms kg-1, i.v.), junctional tachycardia (128 +/- 20 micrograms kg-1, i.v.), multiform ventricular premature beats (157 +/- 21 micrograms kg-1, i.v.) and sustained VT (220 +/- 23 micrograms kg-1, i.v.). 3. Doses of Clon (i.v.) required for termination of VT following i.v. Yoh (62.9 +/- 5.2 micrograms kg-1) or i.a. Yoh (88.5 +/- 16.3 micrograms kg-1) were higher than those for termination of VT without Yoh administration (28.3 +/- 6.2 micrograms kg-1). Doses of Clon (i.a.) required for termination of VT without or with i.a. Yoh administration were 5.8 +/- 1.0 or 14.8 +/- 3.7 micrograms kg-1, respectively, and they were significantly different. 4. These experiments demonstrate that either i.v. or i.a. Yoh antagonizes the antiarrhythmic effect of Clon on AS-induced VT. Since small doses of Clon administered i.a. act predominantly on the central nervous system, we suggest that its antiarrhythmic effect is likely to be on central alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the central nervous system.

Simultaneous gas chromatography/mass spectrometry assay of methadone and 2-ethyl-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) in urine

An efficient extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) procedure has been developed for the simultaneous determination of methadone and 2-ethyl-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine in urine samples. The merits of this procedure include (1) effective high-volume sample processing; (2) excellent gas chromatography characteristics; (3) high precision for quantitative methadone determination--1.0% coefficient of variation (CV) for GC/MS injection replicates and 1.2% for extraction replicates; (4) excellent linearity within the range (0 to 1200 ng/mL) studied; and (5) adequate detection limits (50 ng/mL) for most practical purposes. The detection limit for methadone may be improved 40-fold by using a different internal standard.

Correlations on radioimmunoassay, fluorescence polarization immunoassay, and enzyme immunoassay of cannabis metabolites with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid in urine specimens

Results obtained from three commercial immunoassay kits, Abuscreen, TDx, and EMIT, commonly used for the initial test of urine cannabinoids (and metabolites) were correlated with the 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (9-THC-COOH) concentration as determined by GC/MS. Correlation coefficients obtained based on 26 (out of 1359 total sample population) highly relevant samples, are 0.601 and 0.438 for Abuscreen and TDx. Correlation coefficients obtained from a parallel study on a different set of 47 (out of 5070 total sample population) highly relevant specimens are 0.658 and 0.575 for Abuscreen and Emit. The immunoassay concentration levels, that correspond to the commonly used 15 ng/ml GC/MS cutoff value for 9-THC-COOH, as calculated from the regression equations are 82 ng/ml and 75 ng/ml for TDx and EMIT and 120 ng/ml and 72 ng/ml for Abuscreen manufactured at two different time periods. The difference of these calculated corresponding concentrations provides quantitative evidence of the reagent specificity differences.

Evaluation of immunoassay methods for the screening of cocaine metabolites in urine

Immunoassay kits for urine cocaine (and metabolite) screening, obtained from two commercial sources, were examined for correlation of their results, expressed in terms of equivalent benzoylecgonine concentration, with the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) concentration of benzoylecgonine. The correlation coefficients obtained, based on 62 (out of a total sample population of 3295) highly relevant samples, were 0.467 and 0.766 for Abuscreen (ARIA) and TDx (TDX), respectively. The preliminary screen cutoff values, which correspond to 150 ng/mL benzoylecgonine (as determined by GC/MS), were calculated based on the resulting regression equations and found to be 380 and 190 ng/mL for ARIA and TDX, respectively. With these cutoff values, ARIA generates 5 false negatives and 16 unconfirmed presumptive positives, while TDX results in 3 false negatives and 6 unconfirmed presumptive positives.