DETERMINATION OF ACRYLAMIDE IN RAT SERUM AND SCIATIC-NERVE BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY ELECTRON-CAPTURE DETECTION

A modified method for the derivatization and determination of acrylamide as 2-bromopropenamide by gas chromatography-electron-capture detection was developed and applied to serum and sciatic nerve from rats. The method was accurate and precise over the calibration range 2.24-7.47 mug/ml in serum diluted 1:125 and 4-122 mug/g in sciatic nerve homogenate (5 mg/ml). Limits of detection were estimated to be 1200 ng/ml in undiluted serum and 3 mug/g in intact sciatic nerve. The use of less dilute samples to allow for lower limits of detection appears feasible. The time-course of acrylamide in serum and sciatic nerve was studied after acute dosing and indicated elimination half-lives of 1.8 and 2.0 h for serum and sciatic nerve, respectively. A dose-effect relationship was established for each matrix after acute dosing and the measured acrylamide concentrations in serum (mug/ml) were approximately the same as in sciatic nerve (mug/g).