Analysis of the venom of the Sydney funnel-web spider, Atrax robustus using gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Thirteen compounds have been identified using gas chromatography mass spectrometry in the venom of the Sydney funnel-web spider, Atrax robustus. The compounds were identified as their trimethylsilyl or pentafluoropropionate derivatives and were citric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, glycerol, urea, glucose, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glycine, spermidine, spermine, tyramine and octopamine. Female venom contained trace quantities of 5-methyoxytryptamine which was not detected in male venom. Quantitative determination of tyramine and octopamine was achieved using chemical ionization (CH4) gas chromatography mass spectrometry and deuterated internal standards.