Analysis of the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) metabolite delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha in human plasma by GC/SIM using [18O] delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha.

A method of the microdetermination of delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha, a hydrolyzed metabolite of PGI3, is described. An authentic delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha (120 mg) was prepared from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) incubated with homogenate of bovine aortic intima. 18O]delta 17-6-Keto-PGF1 alpha was synthesized by repeating base-catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl ester derivatives in 18O]water, to obtain an internal standard in gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring (GC/SIM) of delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Good linear response over the range of 10 pg-10ng was demonstrated. Chromatographic conditions using a MP-65HT column presented nearly baseline separation of delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. We were able to detect delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the range from 6 to 26 pg/ml of the human plasma. The present method can be applied to the determination of delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the human urine and plasma.