Endogenous alkaloids in man, part 31. Identification of the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-trichloromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline in human blood after intake of the hypnotic chloral hydrate
G. Bringmann et al., Endogenous alkaloids in man, part 31. Identification of the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-trichloromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline in human blood after intake of the hypnotic chloral hydrate, ANALYT BIOC, 270(1), 1999, pp. 167-175
1-Trichloromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (TaClo), a potent toxin
toward dopaminergic neurons, readily originates in vitro from the biogenic
amine tryptamine and the unnatural aldehyde chloral. For this reason, this
heterocycle has been postulated to be formed endogenously in humans after
administration of the hypnotic chloral hydrate or after exposure to the ind
ustrial solvent trichloroethylene by a spontaneous chemical ring closure re
action, In this paper, we report on the first identification of TaClo in bl
ood samples of patients treated orally with chloral hydrate, Using a specif
ic and sensitive gas chromatographic screening procedure based upon electro
n-capture and mass-selective detection, TaClo was determined after conversi
on to its volatile trifluoroacetyl derivative. The identity of TaClo in hum
ans was clearly demonstrated by GC-MS analysis in selected-ion-monitoring m
ode, by the characteristic chlorine isotopic pattern of the molecular ion,
(C) 1999 Academic Press.