Quantitatition of endogenous acetylcarnitine from piglet brain tissue using acetyl-d3-carnitine as an internal standard by mass spectrometric imaging

摘要

Quantitative MALDI mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) is difficult for numerous reasons including: interfering ions, tissue variation, and shot-to-shot laser instability. Quantitation of endogenous compounds also suffers from the inability to produce matrix-matched standards for comparison of signal intensities and difficulties in applying an internal standard. Combining tandem mass spectrometry and uniform application of an internal standard to tissue samples produced quantitative images of endogenous acetylcarnitine (AC). Determining changes in acetylcarnitine concentration and spatial distribution would provide valuable information about the treatment mechanisms of the ketogenic diet. Ketogenic diets have been used to treat intractable cases of epilepsy for decades, but the therapeutic mechanism remains unknown.