Levels of 5-hydroxytryptophol in cerebrospinal fluid from alcoholics determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A quantitative gas chromatographic-mass spectometric method using a deuterated analogue as internal standard was developed for the analysis of 5-hydroxytryptophol in cerebrospinal fluid. The analytical procedure involves the addition of the internal standard and 5-hydroxyindole to the cerebrospinal fluid followed by extraction into chloroform and derivatization with pentafluoropropionic anhydride. 5-Hydroxytryptophol levels in the CSF of male alcoholics and a control group were examined. During ethanol intoxication the mean level, 10.4 +/- 4.4 pmoles/ml, was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than in the controls, 3.31 +/- 0.94 pmoles/ml. The following morning the mean had decreased (P < 0.01) to 4.46 +/- 1.81 pmoles/ml. The level after 8 days was 4.70 +/- 2.47 pmoles/ml, which is lower than during intoxication (P <0.01). The levels found during the recovery from ethanol intoxication was not statistically different from the levels in the control group. These results indicate that serotonin metabolism in the central nervous system is affected by ethanol consumption.