Determination of prostaglandins and thromboxane as their pentafluorobenzyl-trimethylsilyl derivatives by electron-capture gas chromatography

Abstract

The optimization of the parameters affecting the chromatographic properties and separation of prostaglandin pentafluorobenzyl derivatives by gas chromatography using electron-capture detection is described. The effects of composition and flow-rate of carrier gas, temperatures of detector and column, and nature of stationary phases on the detector response to different pentafluorobenzyl (both oxime and ester) trimethylsilyl ether derivatives of prostaglandins were systemically examined. The stability of some selected prostaglandin derivatives at -20 degrees C was also determined. After standardizing these parameters, prostaglandins and related compounds from biological samples, e.g. semen, rat aorta, dog serum and trout gill were successfully analyzed. Identification of prostaglandins was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.