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Biomedical subjects

J M Midgley

Publications and source records attributed to J M Midgley.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

An extraction-derivatization method suitable for the analysis of biogenic amines by gas chromatography negative ion mass spectrometry.

An extraction-derivatization method suitable for the analysis of subnanogram amounts of biogenic amines in aqueous solution has been developed. The most satisfactory procedure for the analysis of these compounds was reaction with 3,5-ditrifluorobenzoylchloride (DTFMBCl) in phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 followed by extraction of the resultant amide esters into ethyl acetate. This was followed by hydrolysis of the phenolic ester functionalities by shaking the organic layer with 10 M ammonium hydroxide. The phenolic and alcoholic hydroxyl groups were then reacted with bistrimethylsilylacetamide and the trimethylsilyl-DTFMB amides were then analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the negative ion chemical ionization mode with methane as reagent gas. The limits of detection for these derivatives was less than 1 pg and the method was readily applicable to the extraction and analysis of 0.5 ng of a given biogenic amine.

Biogenic Amines↗

The quantification of synthetic corticosteroids using isotope dilution gas chromatography negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

Prednisolone, dexamethasone and betamethasone were labelled with deuterium via a simple synthetic procedure and used as internal standards in the gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of the corresponding undeuterated compounds. The mass spectrometer was used in the negative chemical ionization mode, which gave fragmentation of the methoxime trimethylsilyl ether derivatives favourable for their quantification. The method was applicable to the quantification of synthetic corticosteroids contained in human aqueous humour in the 0.1-10-ng range.

Absorption↗

Penetration of topically applied dexamethasone alcohol into human aqueous humor.

Gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry was used to determine the absorption of topically applied dexamethasone alcohol into the aqueous humor of human subjects undergoing routine intraocular surgery. The dexamethasone concentration in aqueous humor was greatest in the interval between 91 and 120 minutes following instillation (mean concentration, 31 ng/mL). Dexamethasone was still detectable in the aqueous 12 hours after instillation.

Administration, Topical↗

Activities of octopamine and synephrine stereoisomers on alpha-adrenoceptors.

1. The activities of the (-)- and (+)-forms of m- and p-octopamine and m- and p-synephrine on alpha 1-adrenoceptors from rat aorta and anococcygeus and alpha 2-adrenoceptors from rabbit saphenous vein were compared with those of noradrenaline (NA). 2. The rank order of potency of the (-)-forms on alpha 1-adrenoceptors from rat aorta and alpha 2-adrenoceptors was NA greater than m-octopamine = m-synephrine greater than p-octopamine = p-synephrine. The two m-compounds were 6 fold less active than NA on alpha 1-adrenoceptors from rat aorta and 150 fold less active on alpha 2-adrenoceptors. The two p- compounds were 1,000 fold less active than NA on both alpha 1-adrenoceptors from rat aorta and alpha 2-adrenoceptors. The rank order of potency of the (-)- forms on alpha 1-adrenoceptors from rat anococcygeus was NA = m-synephrine greater than m-octopamine greater than p-octopamine = p-synephrine. m-Octopamine was 4 fold less active than NA and (-)-m-synephrine. The two p- compounds were 30 fold less active than NA. 3. The rank order of potency of the (+)- forms was NA greater than m-octopamine greater than m-synephrine greater than p-octopamine greater than p-synephrine on both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors. The potency of each (+)- form was 1-2 orders of magnitude less than that of the (-) counterpart, the differences being greater for the stereoisomers of synephrine than for those of octopamine on both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors. 4. The yohimbine diastereoisomer antagonists, rauwolscine and corynanthine, were tested against (-)-NA and (-)-m-octopamine-induced contractions in both preparations. Based upon the known selectivities of these isomers for alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes, it is concluded that the rat aorta contains only alpha 1-adrenoceptors while the rabbit saphenous vein possesses predominantly alpha 2-adrenoceptors. 5. Ligand binding data for the octopamine and synephrine stereoisomers at alpha 1- and alpha 2-binding sites from rat cerebral cortex was also obtained. (-)-Forms were more active than (+)-forms. The rank order of affinity of the (-)-forms for both alpha 1- and alpha 2-binding sites was NA greater than m-octopamine = m-synephrine greater than p-synephrine greater than p-octopamine. The relative affinities of the members of the series against alpha 1-binding sites were very similar to their relative functional activities on rat aorta. However, the affinities of both m- and p-compounds relative to that of ( -)-NA were much greater at the x2-binding sites than were the relative activities in rabbit saphenous vein, possibly suggesting low intrinsic efficacy. Functional antagonist responses to NA by the (-)-octopamine and synephrines could not, however, be demonstrated on rat aorta or rabbit saphenous vein. 6. The activities of m-octopamine and m-synephrine were not significantly different from each other on either a,-adrenoceptors from rat aorta or x2-adrenoceptors; however, m-synephrine is more active than m-octopamine on a,-adrenoceptors from rat anococcygeus. Both m-octopamine and msynephrine can be considered to be naturally occurring x,-selective amines. However, if m- and poctopamine are co-released with NA in amounts proportional to their concentration, it is concluded that their activities on m,- and x2-adrenoceptors are too low to be physiologically significant.

2-Hydroxyphenethylamine↗

Activities of octopamine and synephrine stereoisomers on octopaminergic receptor subtypes in locust skeletal muscle.

The activities of the (-) and (+)- forms of p-, m- and o-octopamine and p- and m-synephrine have been compared on the different subtypes of octopamine receptor present in the extensor-tibiae neuromuscular preparation from the locust hindleg. The rank order of potency of the (-)-forms on the OCTOPAMINE2A receptors was p-synephrine greater than p-octopamine greater than m-octopamine greater than o-octopamine greater than m-synephrine whilst the rank order of the (+)-forms was p-synephrine greater than p-octopamine greater than m-octopamine. (+)-m-Synephrine and (+)-o-octopamine had no effect on this class of receptor when tested up to a concentration of 10(-3) M. The rank order of potency of the (-)-forms on the OCTOPAMINE2B receptors was p-synephrine greater than p-octopamine greater than m-synephrine greater than m-octopamine greater than o-octopamine whilst the rank order of the (+)-forms was p-octopamine greater than p-synephrine greater than m-octopamine greater than o-octopamine. (+)-m-Synephrine again had no effect up to a concentration of 10(-3) M. The rank order of potency of the (-)-forms on the OCTOPAMINE1 receptors was p-synephrine greater than p-octopamine greater than m-synephrine greater than m-octopamine greater than o-octopamine, whilst the rank order of the (+)-forms was p-synephrine greater than p-octopamine greater than o-octopamine greater than m-synephrine greater than m-octopamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Beta-adrenergic activities of octopamine and synephrine stereoisomers on guinea-pig atria and trachea.

The activities of the (-)- and (+)-forms of m- and p-octopamine and m- and p-synephrine on beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in guinea-pig atria and trachea have been compared with that of noradrenaline. The rank order of potency of the (-)-forms on beta 1-adrenoceptors was noradrenaline greater than m-synephrine greater than m-octopamine = p-octopamine greater than p-synephrine. m-Synephrine was 100-fold, m- and p-octopamine about 6000-fold, and p-synephrine about 40,000-fold less active than noradrenaline. The (+)-forms were 1-2 orders of magnitude less active than their (-)-counterparts. The four (-)-compounds were more than four orders of magnitude less active than noradrenaline on beta 2-adrenoceptors, and the (+)-forms had no detectable activity in concentrations as high as 10(-4) M. If m- and p-octopamine are co-released with noradrenaline in amounts proportional to their concentration, their activities at these structures are too low to be physiologically significant.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

m-Octopamine: normal occurrence with p-octopamine in mammalian sympathetic nerves.

The development of a radiochemical enzyme assay for p-octopamine in 1969 led to its identification in a large number of invertebrate nerve systems and in mammalian sympathetic nerves. The original method by which p-octopamine was measured has now been found to be nonspecific; however, modifications of this procedure can determine both m- and p-octopamine. We recently developed a new specific method for the unequivocal identification and quantitative determination in tissue of the six octopamine and synephrine isomers. With this method--negative chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry--the more physiologically active m-octopamine has been found in association with p-octopamine in 10 organs of the rat. m-Octopamine is present in concentrations equal to those of p-octopamine in heart, spleen, and liver and in concentrations from 30 to 60% of p-octopamine in adrenals, vas deferens, brain, kidney, large intestine, bladder, and lungs. In vivo inhibition of monoamine oxidase markedly increased the concentrations of both m- and p-octopamine in all organs examined. Both amines were virtually absent from all organs except the adrenals following chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine, thereby establishing that m- and p-octopamine are localized within sympathetic nerve endings.

2-Hydroxyphenethylamine↗

The mammalian metabolism of R-(-)-m-synephrine.

The metabolism of R-(-)-m-synephrine (administered orally and by inhalation in man and intraperitoneally in rats) was studied quantitatively by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring (g.c.-m.s.-s.i.m.) method using deuterated internal standards. When m-synephrine hydrochloride was administered orally to humans in normal dosage regimens four main metabolites were excreted in urine: (i) unconjugated m-hydroxymandelic acid (MHMA, 30%), (ii) m-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) sulphate (6%), (iii) m-synephrine sulphate (47%) and (iv) m-synephrine glucuronide (12%). The comparable figures after inhalation of the drug were 24, 6, 56 and 5%. Intraperitoneal injection of m-synephrine into rats gave: unconjugated MHMA (5%), MHPG sulphate (35%), unconjugated m-synephrine (7%) and conjugates of m-synephrine (9%:4% as the glucuronide and 5% as the sulphate).

Administration, Oral↗

The metabolism and biosynthesis of (+/-)-o-octopamine and (+/-)-o-synephrine in the rat.

The metabolism of (+/-)-o-octopamine and (+/-)-o-synephrine by rats was studied quantitatively by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring (g.c.-m.s.-s.i.m.) method using deuterated internal standards. When o-octopamine was injected intraperitoneally into rats four metabolites were excreted in the urine: (i) unconjugated o-hydroxymandelic acid (OHMA) (16%), (ii) unconjugated o-hydroxyphenylglycol (OHPG) (4.5%), (iii) an acid-hydrolysable conjugate of OHPG (28%) and (iv) unconjugated o-octopamine (10%). When o-synephrine benzoate was similarly administered six metabolites were excreted in urine: (i) unconjugated OHMA (13.5%), (ii) unconjugated OHPG (3.3%), (iii) an acid-hydrolysable conjugate of OHPG (15.6%), (iv) unconjugated o-synephrine (10%), (v) an acid-hydrolysable conjugate of o-synephrine (8.5%) and (vi) unconjugated o-octopamine (0.3%). Adult rats normally excreted OHMA (1.0 micrograms day-1) but OHPG, o-octopamine and o-synephrine could not be detected in urine. After the administration of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, unconjugated o-octopamine (0.3 micrograms day-1) was excreted in urine but OHPG and o-synephrine could not be detected. o-Tyramine given to rats afforded urinary o-octopamine (75 ng day-1) and this was increased 10-fold upon co-administration of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and o-tyramine.

Animals↗

Identification and quantitative determination of m-hydroxyphenylglycol in mammalian urine.

m-Hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) has been identified in mammalian urine by gas chromatography mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring. (2H0) MHPG and (2H5) MHPG were synthesized for use as authentic sample and internal standard, respectively. After acid hydrolysis or treatment with sulfatase, the glycol was extracted from urine with ethyl acetate, converted to its tris-pentafluoropropionyl (PFP) derivative and identified by comparison of the retention times and relative intensities of the characteristic ions, m/z 592, m/z 428 and m/z 415, with those from the authentic sample. Using the internal standard the following quantitative results were obtained: 10 normal human adults excreted 7 ng MHPG mg-1 creatinine (range 2-18) as a sulfate conjugate. Ten rats excreted 0.8 micrograms day-1 (range 0.5-1.1) of MHPG also in the conjugated form. Urinary m-hydroxymandelic acid (MHMA) was also measured quantitatively. The ratio MHMA:MHPG was 1:1 in the rat and 6:1 in the human. This indicates that the overall reductive pathway of m-octopamine and m-synephrine metabolism is more important in the rat than in the human. o-Hydroxyphenylglycol (OHPG) and the three isomeric monomethoxy phenylglycols could not be detected in human or rat urine by these techniques.

2-Hydroxyphenethylamine↗

Comparison of o-octopamine and related phenylethanolamines as substrates for norepinephrine N-methyltransferase.

o-Octopamine was a substrate for rabbit adrenal norepinephrine N-methyltransferase with lower affinity than the position isomers m-octopamine and p-octopamine. The order of substrate affinity for monochloro or monohydroxy phenylethanolamines was para greater than meta greater than ortho. With phenylethanolamine and ring-hydroxylated phenylethanolamines, primary amines were better substrates than were N-methyl secondary amines. N-Methylation might be a metabolic pathway for o-octopamine, reported to occur in mammalian tissues.

Adrenal Glands↗

Increased excretion of o-hydroxymandelic acid in phenylketonuria.

o-Hydroxymandelic acid has been found in large amounts in the urine of patients with phenylketonuria by gas chromatography mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring. Using deuterated o-hydroxymandelic acid as an internal standard, five patients were found to excrete 150-340 ng mg-1 creatinine. This may be compared with the excretion of 4-16 ng mg-1 creatine by normal subjects. Neither o-octopamine nor o-synephrine were found in urine under conditions by which 1 ng mg-1 creatinine would have been detected.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗

Identification and quantitative determination of o- and m-hydroxymandelic acid in human urine.

o-Hydroxymandelic acid and m-hydroxymandelic acid have been identified in human urine by gas chromatography mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring. After solvent extraction the urinary acids were converted to their O-trifluoroacetoxy methyl ester derivatives which were identified by comparison of the retention times and relative intensities of the characteristic m/z 374 and m/z 315 ions with those from authentic samples. 4,6-[2H3]-o-hydroxymandelic acid and 2,4,6-[2H3]-m-hydroxymandelic acid were synthesized for use as internal standards in the quantitative estimation of the isomeric hydroxymandelic acids excreted in urine. In ten normal adults the following results were obtained: o-hydroxymandelic acid 4--16 ng mg-1 creatinine and m-hydroxymandelic acid 11--71 ng mg-1 creatinine. Acid hydrolysis of the urine or ingestion of a diet of known composition did not affect these results, indicating that these compounds are excreted as the free acids and probably arise by metabolism of the corresponding phenylethanolamine(s).

Diet↗