Complete separation by high performance liquid chromatography of metabolites of arachidonic acid from incubation with human and rabbit platelets.

Separation of all major cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid were obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A C18 reverse-phase column was used in ion suppression mode to separate underivatized metabolites of arachidonic acid isolated from human and rabbit platelets. The metabolites were monitored by measuring radioactivity or ultraviolet light absorption at 192 nm (absorption by double bonds). Comparisons of TLC and HPLC separations demonstrated that the HPLC separation of metabolites of [1-14C]arachidonic acid was quantitative. HPLC also resolved several metabolites that were not detected by scanning of TLC separations.