High performance liquid chromotography of prostaglandins: biological applications.

Two procedures are described for separation and purification of prostaglandins by high performance liquid chromatography. Both systems show excellent resolution of PGA2, PGE2 and PGF2a. Peak definition on the micro-particle silicic acid system is particularly good with the PGs appearing in 2-3 ml of organs effluent. Studies on reproducibility showed that PGE2 and PGE2a could be recovered with a retention volume of 54.2+/-0.76 ml and 64+/-0.6 ml, respectively (n=7, mean +/-50) with good recovery. The column can be run in about one hour and can be regenerated indefinitely (greater than 200 times). The degree of purification is compatible with analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Examples showing the application of this chromatographic method to human seminal fluid, human renal tissue, platelet rich plasma and human urine samples indicate that it makes possible analysis of these samples even at low levels.