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Metabolomics pp 245–265Cite as

Untargeted Metabolomics Determination of Postmortem Changes in Brain Tissue Samples by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS and GC-EI-Q-MS

Part of the Neuromethods book series (NM,volume 159)

Abstract

Metabolomics is a well-established method that allows for the screening of a broad range of metabolic shifts, capturing the global state of a complex system. Postmortem biochemical processes induce significant metabolic changes within the brain, hindering later the proper interpretation of the results. Consequently, one of the main challenges when facing a metabolomics study based on brain tissue samples is dealing with such alterations induced by tissue degradation and the hypoxic/ischemic state generated in this organ after death. Generally speaking, metabolomics experiments can be addressed following a discovery-orientated untargeted approach or an aim-dependent targeted analysis. Here, we describe a protocol to carry out untargeted metabolomics studies based on brain tissue samples by liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) aiming to gain a deeper knowledge of the biochemical changes that occur in the brain tissue following death. We also provide some recommendations to avoid postmortem-induced changes in brain samples.

Key words

  • Postmortem interval
  • Multiplatform metabolomics
  • Untargeted lipidomics
  • LC-MS analysis
  • GC-MS analysis
  • MS1 annotation

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Acknowledgments

Authors want to express their gratitude to the financial support received from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities RTI2018-095166-B-I00, and the FEDER Program 2014–2020 of the Community of Madrid (Ref. S2017/BMD3684).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), University San Pablo CEU, Madrid, Spain

    Carolina Gonzalez-Riano, Antonia García & Coral Barbas

Authors
  1. Carolina Gonzalez-Riano
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  2. Antonia García
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  3. Coral Barbas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Coral Barbas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Metabolomics Unit, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN, USA

    Ph.D. Paul L. Wood

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Gonzalez-Riano, C., García, A., Barbas, C. (2021). Untargeted Metabolomics Determination of Postmortem Changes in Brain Tissue Samples by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS and GC-EI-Q-MS. In: Wood, P.L. (eds) Metabolomics . Neuromethods, vol 159. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0864-7_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0864-7_20

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0863-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0864-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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