Revised method for the quantitative determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine in human plasma by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry—selected ion monitoring

Abstract

To estimate the 5-hydroxytryptamine level in human plasma by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry—selected ion monitoring (GC—MS—SIM), a recovery method from plasma and derivatization conditions with pentafluoropropionic anhydride were investigated. By heating 5-hydroxytryptamine at 140°C for 4 h in the presence of pentafluoropropionic anhydride the peak intensity of derivatized 5-hydroxytryptamine increased more than three times in comparison with the reported method. There was a marked difference in the plasma levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine obtained using the GC—MS—SIM method compared to those obtained using fluorometric assay.