Detection and Imaging of Neurotransmitters in Rodent Brain Tissue Using FMP-10 and ZnO Nanoparticle Matrices with Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is an analytical technique used to visualize the spatial distribution of molecules within biological samples. In our lab, we employ two complementary matrices, 2-fluoro-1-methyl pyridinium (FMP-10) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP), to image neurotransmitters in rodent brain tissue. FMP-10 facilitates on-tissue chemical derivatization to detect 17 neurochemicals, notably dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, and norepinephrine. ZnO NP detects 9 neurochemicals, including glutamate and glutamine, which are undetectable by FMP-10. We applied both matrices to investigate neurochemical changes in male and female adolescent rats administered edible Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Our MALDI MSI data revealed significant downregulation of dopamine, GABA, glutamate, and glutamine levels in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens of THC-treated males and females. To improve the quantitative accuracy of our MALDI MSI analysis, we evaluated deuterated GABA (GABA-d6) as an internal standard to achieve precise and reproducible quantitation of molecules.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Pusparajah, Mathusha

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Yeung, Ken

• MALDI
• mass spectrometry imaging
• FMP-10
• ZnO nanoparticles
• rodent brain
• neurotransmitters

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/27917

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/27917