Determination of glutamic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid in Ringer's solution without desalination at the femtomole level by gas chromatography chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

For the quantification of glutamic acid in Ringer's solution, pentafluoropropionic methyl ester was the most sensitive derivative. The detectable concentration was 0.01 microM glutamic acid in Ringer's solution; the amount of the preparation was 1 pmol and the injection into a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer was 10 fmol. For the quantification of gamma-aminobutyric acid in Ringer's solution, the trifluoroacetal-hexafluoropropionyl ester was quantification of gamma-aminobutyric acid in Ringer's solution, the trifluoroacetal-hexafluoropropionyl ester was detectable at a concentration of 0.01 microM. Ringer's salts facilitated acylation in the order heptafluorobutyric anhydride greater than pentafluoropropionic anhydride greater than trifluoroacetic anhydride. The effect depended on esterification of carboxy groups in the order methyl ester greater than hexafluoropropionyl ester greater than butyl ester. Sodium carbonate, sodium acetate and sodium citrate also facilitated acylation with pentafluoroproionic anhydride, while sodium phosphate inhibited the acylation and sodium sulfate inhibited it slightly. The pentafluoropropionic methyl ester of glutamic acid was stable for up to 10 days, when it was dissolved in acetone and stored at -18 degrees C.