Determination of free acetaldehyde in total blood for investigating the effect of aspartate on metabolism of alcohol in mice

To explore the effect of sodium L-aspartate monohydrate (aspartate) as a NA D(+) regenerating agent for acetaldehyde in alcohol metabolism, a simple HP LC method has been developed for the measurement of free acetaldehyde in to tal mice blood digested with alcohol and aspartate. The blood samples were collected in EDTA Vacutainer tubes, and treated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydra zine (DNP hydrazine) reagent in total blood. Acetaldehyde DNP hydrazone was extracted from total blood and analyzed by HPLC using an Ultrasphere ODS c olumn. The compounds were separated using acetonitrile-water (50:50, v/v) a s mobile phase and detected at 356 nm. The detection limit for acetaldehyde DNP hydrazone was 0.1 ppm. A blank determination was carried out for each analysis and subtracted from the results. The amount of acetaldehyde in blo od has been determined as a function of time lapse after sole alcohol admin istration and aspartate ingestion followed by alcohol administration, respe ctively. This comparative analysis demonstrates that the ingestion of aspar tate before the administration of alcohol dramatically decreases the aldehy de level in blood, and aspartate may be utilized as a prospective antagonis t for acceleration of ethanol metabolism and prevention of acetaldehyde tox icity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.