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Automation and Analytical Techniques |
1 Department of Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases and Department of Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 2 Department of Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
aAddress correspondence to this author at: Department of Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, Postbox 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands. Fax +31887555350; e-mail S.Fuchs{at}umcutrecht.nl.
Background: The recent discovery and specific functions of D-amino acids in humans are bound to lead to the revelation of D-amino acid abnormalities in human disorders. Therefore, high-throughput analysis techniques are warranted to determine D-amino acids in biological fluids in a routine laboratory setting.
Methods: We developed 2 chromatographic techniques, a nonchiral derivatization with chiral (chirasil-L-val column) separation in a GC-MS system and a chiral derivatization with Marfeys reagent and LC- MS analysis. We validated the techniques for D-serine, L-serine, and glycine determination in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), evaluated several confounders, and determined age-dependent human concentration ranges.
Results: Quantification limits for D-serine, L-serine, and glycine in cerebrospinal fluid were 0.14, 0.44, and 0.14 µmol/L, respectively, for GC-MS and 0.20, 0.41, and 0.14 µmol/L for LC-MS. Within-run imprecision was <3% for both methods, and between-run imprecision was <13%. Comparison of both techniques with Deming regression yielded coefficients of 0.90 (D-serine), 0.92 (L-serine), and 0.96 (glycine). Sample collection, handling, and transport is uncomplicated—there is no rostrocaudal CSF gradient, no effect of storage at 4 °C for 1 week before storage at –80 °C, and no effect of up to 3 freeze/thaw cycles. Conversely, contamination with erythrocytes increased D-serine, L-serine, and glycine concentrations. CSF concentrations for 145 apparently healthy controls demonstrated markedly and specifically increased (5 to 9 times) D-serine concentrations during early central nervous system development.
Conclusions: These 2 clinically applicable analysis techniques will help to unravel pathophysiologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic issues for disorders associated with central nervous system abnormalities, NMDA-receptor dysfunction, and other pathology associated with D-amino acids.
The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:
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K. Hashimoto CSF Serine Enantiomers and Glycine in the Study of Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders Clin. Chem., September 1, 2008; 54(9): 1413 - 1414. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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