Studies on neurosteroids IX. Characterization of estrogens in rat brains using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The characterization of the classical estrogens (estrone, estradiol, estrio l) and guaiacol estrogens (2-hydroxyestrone 3-methyl ether, 4-hydroxyestron e 3-methyl ether) in rat brains was performed using gas chromatography-tand em mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). Estrogens were purified from Wistar strain rat brains by some chromatographic pre-treatments, such as solid-phase ext raction, preparative thin-layer chromatography or preparative high-performa nce liquid chromatography. After the derivatization with O-methylhydroxylam ine and/or N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide estrogens were identif ied by comparison of their chromatographic behavior during GC-MS-MS operati ng in the product ion scan mode and comparison with the product ion MS spec tra of an authentic sample. These evidences suggested that estrogens exist in rat brains as neurosteroids or neuroactive steroids. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience BN. All rights reserved.