LC-MS/MS analysis of steroid hormones  and prostaglandins in biological samples

Steroid hormones are secreted by three “steroid glands”—the adrenal cortex, testes, and ovaries—and during pregnancy by the placenta. All steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol. Steroid hormones bind to the receptors inside the cytoplasm to act as second messengers. They are transported through the bloodstream to the cells of various target organs where they carry out the regulation of a wide range of physiological functions (help control metabolism, inflammation, immune functions, salt and water balance, development of sexual characteristics, and the ability to withstand injury and illness).

Prostaglandins are biochemically synthesized from arachidonic acid. They exist and are synthesized in virtually every cell of the body. Prostaglandins, act as chemical messengers (like hormones), but do not move to other sites, but stay and act within the cells where they are synthesized. 

Instrumental: QTRAP 6500+ mass spectrometer (Sciex) coupled with Nexera binary UPLC (Shimadzu). The mass spectrometer was operated in positive or negative ESI scheduled MRM modes. Chromatographic separations were carried out using the Acclaim-C18 column (2.1×150 mm, 2.7µ particle size, Dionex) using a linear gradient of ACN/water (with 1 mM ammonium fluoride). The instrument was controlled and data were analyzed using Analyst and MultiQuant software respectively (Sciex).