LC—MS/MS method for quantification of atorvastatin, o-hydroxyatorvastatin, p-hydroxyatorvastatin, and atorvastatin lactone in rat plasma

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the quantification of atorvastatin, ortho-hydroxyatorvastatin, para-hydroxyatorvastatin, and atorvastatin lactone in rat plasma. Solid-phase extraction was used for preparation of samples. Rosuvastatin was chosen as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was achieved on ZORBAX Eclipse C18 Analytical, 4.6 × 100 mm (3.5 μm) column with a gradient mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and 0.1% acetic acid, at a flow rate of 400 μL min−1. The column was kept at constant temperature (25 °C), and autosampler tray temperature was set at 4 °C. The following selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions were selected: (m/z, Q1 → Q3, collision energy) atorvastatin (559.47 → 440.03, 22 eV), atorvastatin lactone (541.36 → 448.02, 19 eV), ortho-ohydroxyatorvastatin (575.20 → 440.18, 20 eV), para-hydroxyatorvastatin (575.54 → 440.18, 20 eV), and rosuvastatin (482.25 with selected combination of two fragments 257.77...