Metabolomic study of polyamines in rat urine following intraperitoneal injection of γ-hydroxybutyric acid.

Introduction: Recently, illegal abuse of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has increased in drug-facilitated crimes, but the determination of GHB exposure and intoxication is difficult due to rapid metabolism of GHB. Its biochemical mechanism has not been completely investigated. And a metabolomic study by polyamine profile and pattern analyses was not performed in rat urine following intraperitoneal injection with GHB.

Objectives: Urinary polyamine (PA) profiling by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed to monitor an altered PA according to GHB administration.

Methods: Polyamine profiling analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with star pattern recognition analysis was performed in this study. The multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate discrimination among control and GHB administration groups.

Results: Six polyamines were determined in control, single and multiple GHB administration groups. Star pattern showed distorted hexagonal shapes with characteristic and readily distinguishable patterns for each group. N-Acetylspermine (p < 0.001), putrescine (p < 0.006), N-acetylspermidine (p < 0.009), and spermine (p < 0.027) were significantly increased in single administration group but were significantly lower in the multiple administration group than in the control group. N-Acetylspermine was the main polyamine for discrimination among control, single and multiple administration groups. Spermine showed similar levels in single and multiple administration groups.

Conclusions: The polyamine metabolic pattern was monitored in GHB administration groups. N-Acetylspermine and spermine were evaluated as potential biomarkers of GHB exposure and addiction.