Noninvasive Detection of Chemical Defenses in Poison Frogs Using the MasSpec Pen

Poison frogs are well-known for their fascinating ability to store alkaloids in their skin as chemical defense against predators. Chemical methods used to study these alkaloids are limited by requirements for euthanasia or stress during sampling. Here, we demonstrate sensitive and biocompatible alkaloid detection and monitoring in vivo using the MasSpec Pen, a handheld, noninvasive chemical detection device coupled to a mass spectrometer. The MasSpec Pen allowed rapid (<15 s), gentle, and consecutive molecular analysis without harm or undue stress to the animals. Through a month-long alkaloid-feeding study with the dyeing poison frog, we observed temporal dynamics of chemical sequestration in vivo by comparing frogs fed the alkaloid decahydroquinoline (DHQ) to vehicle-fed frogs. We also demonstrate the feasibility of the MasSpec Pen for the untargeted detection of rich alkaloid profiles from skin extracts of the Diablito poison frog, collected from two distinct geographical populations in Ecuador. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the utility of the MasSpec Pen for direct, rapid, and biocompatible analysis of poison frog alkaloids.