Determination of anandamide and other fatty acyl ethanolamides in human serum by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Anal Biochem. 2007 Feb 15;361(2):162-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2006.11.027. Epub 2006 Dec 20.

Abstract

We developed a new selective liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for the identification and quantification of anandamide (AEA), an endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand, and other bioactive fatty acid ethanolamides (FAEs) in biological samples. Detection limit (0.025 pmol for AEA and 0.1 pmol for palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA)) and quantification limit (0.2 pmol for AEA and 0.4 pmol for OEA and PEA) were in the high fmol to low pmol range for all analytes. Linear correlations (r(2)=0.99) were observed in the calibration curves for standard AEA over the range of 0.025-25 pmol and for standard PEA and OEA over the range of 0.1-500 pmol. This method provides a time-saving and sensitive alternative to existing methods for the analysis of FAEs in biological samples.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides
  • Arachidonic Acids / blood*
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Ethanolamines
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oleic Acids / blood*
  • Palmitic Acids / blood*
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / blood*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*

Substances

  • Amides
  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Ethanolamines
  • Oleic Acids
  • Palmitic Acids
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • oleoylethanolamide
  • palmidrol
  • anandamide