Rapid gas chromatographic--mass spectrometric quantitation of gamma-aminobutyric acid in biological specimens.

A mass fragmentographic method for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) quantitation using the heptafluorobutyryl-cyclohexyl-GABA derivative is described. Both capillary and packed column gas chromatography were used. This procedure employs 2,2[2H2]GABA as an internal standard and allows the rapid, sensitive, and specific measurement of GABA with a minimum of sample clean-up. Application of the method is demonstrated in mouse embryonic brain, body, and palate and human platelets, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine.