Simultaneous analysis of methylprednisolone, methylprednisolone succinate, and endogenous corticosterone in rat plasma

A reversed-phase HPLC method is reported for simultaneous quantitation of methylprednisolone (MP), MP succinate (MPS), and endogenous corticosterone (CST) in plasma of rats. Additionally, the 11-keto metabolite of MP (methylprednisone, MPN) is resolved from the other analytes. After addition of internal standard (triamcinolone acetonide; IS) and an initial clean up step, the analytes of interest are extracted into methylene chloride. The steroids are then resolved on a reversed-phase polymer column using a mobile phase of 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 5.7): acetonitrile (77:23) which is pumped at a flow rate of 1.5 ml min^?1. Sample detection was accomplished using an UV detector at a wavelength of 250 nm. All the five components (MPS, MP, MPN, CST and IS) were baseline resolved from each other and other components of plasma. Linear relationships were found between the steroids: IS peak area ratios and plasma concentrations in the range of 0.1–4 μg ml^?1 for MP and MPS and 0.1–1.0 μg ml^?1 for MPN and CST. The assay is accurate as intra- and inter-run error values were <±8% for all the components. Further, the intra- and inter-run CVs of the assay were <16% at all the concentrations and for all the components. The application of the assay was demonstrated after the injection of a single 5 mg kg^?1 (MP equivalent) dose of MPS or a macromolecular prodrug of MP to rats.