The F and 19-hydroxy F prostaglandins and their 8ß-isomers in human seminal plasma: Data on chromatography and mass spectrometry

Human seminal plasma contains eight different prostaglandins belonging to the F series, i.e. PGF1a, PGF2a, 19-hydroxy-PGF1a, 19-hydroxy PGF2a, as well as the corresponding 8ß-isomers. A systematic description of the mass spectrometric fragmentation of the 8ß-isomers has not been previously reported. In the present study the prostaglandins were separated from human seminal plasma and analysed as methylester, trimethylsilylethers with gas chromatography mass spectrometry. All the eight F and 19-hydroxy F prostaglandins fragmented in the same manner, but the relative abundances of the formed ions varied in a typical way. Thus, the mass spectra of 8ß-PGF1aand 8ß-19-hydroxy PGF1adiffered clearly from those of their 8a-isomers, which could be used for identification and should be considered in selected ion monitoring. The ratio between the seminal plasma levels of 8ß- and 8a-isomers of 19-hydroxy F1awas much higher than the corresponding ratio for the PGF1a.