Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of amine metabolites in urine

An analytical method for the separation and identification of amine metabolites in human urine has been developed using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer-computer system. The sample preparation consists of organic solvent extraction, adsorption on a cation-exchange resin, evaporation, and acylation. N-3-Hydroxypropyl-1, 4-diaminobutane was identified for the first time in urine. Methylguanidine, guanidine, putrescine, cadaverine, p-tyramine, 3-methoxytyramine, spermidine, and spermine were detected in normal urine with good gas chromatographic separation.