Determination of prostaglandin E2 and the main prostaglandin E metabolite by micro high-performance liquid chromatography using fluorescence derivatization with dansyl hydrazine.

A micro high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and the main prostaglandin E metabolite (PGEMT) in rat organs and human urine has been developed. Prednisolone was added to the sample as the internal standard. The isolated PG's and the internal standard were subjected to reaction with dansyl hydrazine, separated by liquid chromatography on a mu Fine pack SIL C18 and determined fluorimetrically. The standard deviation of the method was +/- 6.5% for PGE2, and +/- 8.4% for PGEMT. The detection and simultaneous quantitation of less than 10 ng of PGE2 and PGEMT is possible. The proposed method is suitable for the pharmacological analysis of PGE2 and PGEMT in various rat tissues and human urine.