F2-isoprostanes in Fish mucus: A new, non-invasive method for analyzing a biomarker of oxidative stress

Abstract F2-isoprostanes (F2-isoPs) are a reliable biomarker class for oxidative stress in vivo in animals. These compounds are traditionally measured in matrices like liver and plasma, however social and environmental pressures warrant the development of non-lethal and non-invasive methods to assess animal health. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method to separate and detect F2-isoPs in fish mucus. The method was developed and validated for four native F2-isoP isomers using Northern pike mucus (Esox lucius). Linearity was observed between 5 and 1000 pg/μL. The limits of detection of the four F2-IsoP isomers ranged from 0.63 to 2.0 ng/g. Recoveries ranged from 78 to 95%, and matrix effects were small (