HPLC–electrospray mass spectrometric assay for the determination of (R,R)-fenoterol in rat plasma

A fast and specific liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the determination of (R,R)-fenoterol ((R,R)-Fen) in rat plasma has been developed and validated. (R,R)-Fen was extracted from 125 μl of plasma using solid phase extraction and analyzed on Atlantis HILIC Silica 3 μm column. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile:ammonium acetate (pH 4.1; 20 mM) (85:15, v/v), at a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min. The lower limit of detection (LLOD) was 2 ng/ml . The procedure was validated and applied to the analysis of plasma samples from rats previously administered (R,R)-Fen in an intravenous bolus.