Volatile carbonyl levels in tissues of transgenic mice with nerve sheath tumors

Volatile carbonyl compounds in homogenates prepared from various tissues of tumor-bearing transgenic mice were determined. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were derivatized to thiazolidines. Malonaldehyde was derivatized to 1-methylpyrazole. The derivatives were quantified by gas chromatography with a highly sensitive and specific nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The limits of quantitation of formaldehyde and malonaldehyde were 2 micrograms/ml of homogenate and 27 ng/ml of homogenate, respectively. Levels of malonaldehyde in the erythrocytes and gastrocnemius of tumor-bearing transgenic mice were elevated as compared to the same tissue in control non-transgenic mice. Brain, liver, kidney, heart, and spleen tissues of the tumor-bearing mice exhibited decreased malonaldehyde levels. Similar results were obtained for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.