Simultaneous Mapping of Amino Neurotransmitters and Nucleoside Neuromodulators on Brain Tissue Sections by On-Tissue Chemoselective Derivatization and MALDI-MSI

Anal Chem. 2023 Nov 14;95(45):16549-16557. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02674. Epub 2023 Oct 31.

Abstract

Neurotransmitters (NTs) and neuromodulators (NMs) are two of the most important neurochemicals in the brain, and their imbalances in specific brain regions are thought to underlie certain neurological disorders. We present an on-tissue chemoselective derivatization mass spectrometry imaging (OTCD-MSI) method for the simultaneous mapping of NTs and NMs. Our derivatization system consists of a pyridiniumyl-benzylboronic acid based derivatization reagent and pyrylium salt, which facilitate covalent charge labeling of molecules containing cis-diol and primary amino, respectively. These derivatization systems improved the detection sensitivity of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MSI and simplified the identification of amino NTs and nucleoside NMs by the innate chemoselectivity of derivatization reagents and the unique isotopic pattern of boron-derivative reagents. We demonstrated the ability of the developed method on brain sections from a hypoxia mouse model and control. The simultaneous imaging of NTs and NMs provided a method for exploring how hypoxic stress and drugs affect specific brain regions through neurotransmitter modulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Mice
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / analysis
  • Nucleosides*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods

Substances

  • Nucleosides
  • Neurotransmitter Agents