Investigation of the in vitro metabolism of 17b-estradiol by LC-MS/MS using ESI and APC

Abstract

Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) were used for the investigation of the in vitro metabolism of 17β-estradiol on rat isolated hepatocytes. The catechol estrogens corresponding to 17β-estradiol and estrone were identified by ESI, together with their glutathione and glucoronide conjugates, whereas more apolar compounds such as methoxylated catechol estrogens were characterised using APCI.