Liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric measurement of the endogenous cannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol in the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.
Abstract
AIM:
To develop a sensitive method for measuring the putative endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) in the peripheral and central nervous system.
METHODS:
A method using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was developed to determine the levels of 2-AG in methanol extracts of the rat lumbar spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and sciatic nerve.
RESULTS:
2-AG was detected with high sensitivity and minimal sample preparation. The levels in the tissues analyzed were < or = pmol/mg wet weight. Similar levels were found in the spinal cord and the DRG, whereas approximately 7-fold lower levels were observed in the sciatic nerve.
CONCLUSION:
2-AG is present in the peripheral nervous system, and the levels are markedly higher in cell bodies than those in axons.
Keywords:
To develop a sensitive method for measuring the putative endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) in the peripheral and central nervous system.
METHODS:
A method using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was developed to determine the levels of 2-AG in methanol extracts of the rat lumbar spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and sciatic nerve.
RESULTS:
2-AG was detected with high sensitivity and minimal sample preparation. The levels in the tissues analyzed were < or = pmol/mg wet weight. Similar levels were found in the spinal cord and the DRG, whereas approximately 7-fold lower levels were observed in the sciatic nerve.
CONCLUSION:
2-AG is present in the peripheral nervous system, and the levels are markedly higher in cell bodies than those in axons.