High pressure liquid chromatography of zearalenone and zearalenols in rat urine and liver
James, L.J.; McGirr, L.G.; Smith, T.K.
Journal - Association of Official Analytical Chemists 65(1): 8-13
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-5756 PMID: 6460020 Document Number: 184237
Zearalenone is an important mycotoxin and its presence in feedstuffs causes reproductive disorders in livestock. A high pressure liquid chromatographic technique with internal standardization was developed for determining zearalenone and metabolities in rat urine and liver. Following extraction with methylene chloride and solvent partition, samples were cleaned up by applying the extract to a Sephadex LH-20 column and eluting with a mixture of benzene-methanol (85 + 15). Compounds were resolved on 2 Partisil-10 columns (25 cm .times. 4.6 mm id ) in series with a mobile phase of isooctane-chloroform-methanol (35 + 25 + 3) and detected at 280 nm. The internal standard was 6'.alpha.-acetoxyzearalane. Limits of detection were .apprx. 2.0 ng for zearalenone and 5.0 ng for zearalenols (6'-hydroxyzearalane). Zearalenone and zearalenols were excreted mainly in free form with relatively little glucuronide conjugation. Metabolism of zearalenone to free zearalenol was minor compared with formation of bound forms.