Determination of tryptamine in brain tissue by capillary gas chromatography mass spectrometry (selected ion monitoring).

The development of an analytical method for the determination of brain tryptamine using capillary gas chromatography mass spectrometry (selected ion monitoring) is presented. The method involves solvent extraction of brain homogenates and further derivatization (pentafluoropropionyl derivatives) of the dried extracts. Gas chromatographic analysis is performed using a bonded phase silica fused capillary column. Selected monitoring of m/z 289 and 292 (isotope dilution technique) allows the determination of tryptamine in adult rat brain (450 +/- 73 pg g-1) (means +/- SEM), n = 6.