Reducing Acyl Migration during Purification of 2-Arachidonoylglycerol from Biological Samples before Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Abstract

Endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) regulates several important physiological processes in the brain. 2-AG is commonly quantified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry after an initial purification step. The most precise and rapid purification utilizes C₁₈ solid-phase extraction, but quantification problems can arise with acyl migration from 2-AG to 1-arachidonoylglycerol. We found that extraction with methanol promoted this migration, but acetone and diethyl ether (Et₂O) did not. Acetone and Et₂O were used to develop a purification method for the direct determination of 2-AG.