ANALYSIS OF TETRAMINE IN SEA SNAILS BY CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS TANDEM MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Tetramine (tetramethylammonium ion) is an autonomic ganglionic blockin g agent that is found in several marine gastropod species. It is respo nsible for numerous incidents of human intoxication in Japan, Europe a nd Canada, due to the consumption of whelks (sea snails). This communi cation reports on a capillary zone electrophoresis-mass spectrometry ( CZE-MS) method for the detection and quantitation of tetramine in whel k tissues. The interfacing of CZE and MS was accomplished with a coaxi al sheath how arrangement and pneumatically assisted electrospray ioni zation, CZE separations were evaluated using both bare fused-silica co lumns and capillaries coated with linear polyacrylamide, with the latt er showing the better performance. Enhanced selectivity for trace leve l detection of tetramine in tissue extracts was achieved using CZE wit h on-line tandem mass spectrometry (CZE-MS-MS). Quantitation of the ta rget analyte was facilitated using tetraethylammonium ion as an intern al standard. The method has been applied to the analysis of two differ ent Neptunea whelk species from Canada (N. decemcostata and N. despect a tornata) and one from Japan (N. arthritica). The analysis of one sam ple, implicated in a recent poisoning incident in Labrador, revealed h igh levels of tetramine (430 mu g/g) as well as choline and an unusual choline derivative. This CZE-MS methodology should be useful for a nu mber of other related cholinergic analogs bearing the quaternary amine function. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.