Authors: Larson, Scott J.¹; Putnam, Elizabeth A.²; Schwanke, Corbin M.²; Pershouse, Mark A.²

Source: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 31, Number 1, January/February 2007 , pp. 15-22(8)

Publisher: Preston Publications

Abstract:

The exogenous administration of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) as a drug of abuse, and especially in date rape sexual assaults, has recently increased. Chromatographic techniques are used to detect GHB in blood or urine, with a window of detection limited to 12 h. This brief window makes the proof of administration problematic in most rape cases. This study is aimed to extend the window of detection through surrogate markers of GHB administration. Microarray technology is used in a DBA/2J mouse model to detect gene expression changes in peripheral blood after GHB exposure at times as long as 96 h post exposure. This study focuses on two of the most significantly altered transcripts, epiregulin and phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes 15 (Pea-15). Both genes have increased the ribonucleic acid expression (8.5- and 4.6-fold upregulation at 96 h, respectively) in GHB-dosed mice (1 g/kg) as compared with the control. To confirm these results at the protein level, an intracellular flow cytometric assay is developed to detect protein level changes in the peripheral blood of both these potential biomarkers after GHB exposure. These results suggest that after further development, epiregulin and Pea-15 may prove to be significant surrogate markers in the indirect detection of GHB administration.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C. 2: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana

Publication date: 2007-01-01

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• The Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT), established in 1977 and published 9 times a year, is the international source covering a broad range of clinical, forensic, and industrial laboratory topics regarding the isolation, identification, and quantitation of potentially toxic substances.

  With an emphasis on practical application, JAT articles provide improved and novel techniques for use in clinical, forensic, workplace, sports testing (doping), and other toxicology laboratories. Articles describe newly developed methods in immunoassay testing, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, solid and liquid phase extraction techniques, and other analytical approaches. Worldwide readership includes toxicologists, pathologists, chemists, clinicians, researchers, and educators working in medical examiner and law enforcement laboratories, hospitals, university and independent analytical laboratories, as well as the drug manufacturing industry.

  Each year in October, we publish a special issue from the Society of Forensic Toxicologists.

  JAT, as determined by ISI Citation Index, is one of the two most referenced international journals in forensic science.

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