Multidimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for tracer studies of fatty acid metabolism via stable isotopes in cultured human trophoblast cells

The determination of placental fatty acid metabolism using stable isotope-labeled tracers was investigated in the human placental choriocarcinoma (JAR) cell line. Stable isotope incorporation was measured by MDGC–MS. The cultured trophoblast cells incorporated and metabolized the essential fatty acids to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The described method enables the detection of a low Δ6-desaturase activity in this human placental cell line. The developed MDGC–MS method allows the assessment of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in cultured cells with high sensitivity and selectivity. In this respect, tracer studies with MDGC–MS will be a powerful tool to clarify the significance of placental fatty acid metabolism.