A multi-analytical platform approach to the metabonomic analysis of plasma from normal and Zucker (fa/fa) obese rats

Plasma obtained from 20 week old normal Wistar-derived and Zucker (fa/fa) rats was analysed using a number of different analytical methodologies to obtain global metabolite profiles as part of metabonomic investigations of animal models of diabetes. Samples were analysed without sample pre-treatment using 1H NMR spectroscopy, after acetonitrile solvent protein precipitation by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS (UPLC-MS) and after acetonitrile protein precipitation and derivatisation for capillary gas chromatography-MS (GC-MS). Subsequent data analysis using principal components analysis revealed that all three analytical platforms readily detected differences between the plasma metabolite profiles of the two strains of rat. There was only limited overlap between the metabolites detected by the different methodologies and the combination of all three methods of metabolite profiling therefore provided a much more comprehensive profile than would have been provided by their use individually.