Validation of MALDI-MS imaging data of selected membrane lipids in murine brain with and without laser postionization by quantitative nano-HPLC-MS using laser microdissection.

MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a widely used technique to map the spatial distribution of molecules in sectioned tissue. The technique is based on the systematic generation and analysis of ions from small sample volumes, each representing a single pixel of the investigated sample surface. Subsequently, mass spectrometric images for any recorded ion species can be generated by displaying the signal intensity at the coordinate of origin for each of these pixels.