Determination of prostaglandin E1 and its main plasma metabolites 15-keto-prostaglandin E0 and prostaglandin E0 by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometry.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), 15-keto-PGE0 and PGE0 in plasma were determined in an isotope dilution assay by gas chromatography/triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometry. After addition of deuterated internal standards, the prostaglandins were extracted by a solid-phase cartridge and derivatized to the pentafluorobenzyl ester methoxime. The samples were purified by thin-layer chromatography, converted to the trimethylsilyl ethers and quantified by gas chromatography/triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometry. The parent ions in the negative ion chemical ionization mode were [M-pentafluorobenzyl]- ([P]-), the daughter ions used for quantification were [P-(CH3)3SiOH]- (PGE0 and 15-keto-PGE0) and [P-2(CH3)3SiOH]- (PGE1), respectively. Plasma concentrations in healthy subjects were at about 1-3 pg ml-1 for PGE1 and PGE0 and 2-15 pg ml-1 for 15-keto-PGE0. After infusion of 60 micrograms PGE1 in 2 h, the concentrations in plasma were 3-10 pg ml-1 for PGE1, 8-17 pg ml-1 for PGE0 and 115-205 pg ml-1 for 15-keto-PGE0.