Analysis of amino acids in brain and plasma samples by sensitive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected-ion monitoring provided a simple and sensitive method for analyzing amino acids in plasma and brain samples. Although the sensitivities of chemical ionization and electron-impact ionization were similar chemical ionization produced higher-mass ions, which might increase the selectivity of the assay. Both chemical and electron-impact ionization distinguished the natural amino acids from the 15N-labelled amino acids. The recovery of amino acids from plasma and brain samples was ca. 75%. The amino acid levels determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were comparable with the amino acid levels determined by high-performance liquid chromatography or amino acid analyzer.