High-performance liquid chromatography with mercury cathode electrochemical detection: application to lipid hydroperoxide analysis.

Lipid hydroperoxide species can be analyzed with high sensitivity and specificity, using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with reductive mode electrochemical detection on a mercury drop cathode [HPLC-ED(Hg)]. The purpose of this study was to examine different variables in the operation of HPLC-ED(Hg) and to select optimal conditions for the analysis of several biologically relevant peroxides, including species derived from cholesterol, cholesteryl linoleate, oleate, linoleate, and two synthetic phosphatidylcholines. Parameters such as operating potential and mobile-phase solvent proportions, electrolyte composition, and ionic strength were evaluated for each peroxide class. Under optimal conditions, we have achieved baseline separation of four cholesterol hydroperoxide species, not only from one another, but also from phospholipid hydroperoxides; detection limits were < 0.3 pmol and < 30 pmol for the cholesterol and phospholipid hydroperoxides, respectively.