Quantification of naltrexone and 6,β-naltrexol in plasma and milk using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry: Application to studies in the lactating sheep

A selective gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method using solid-phase extraction has been developed for the detection and quantification of naltrexone and its metabolite, 6,β-naltrexol in plasma and milk from humans and sheep at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. Di- or tri-acetyl derivatives were formed and quantified by selected-ion monitoring. Recoveries of naltrexone (30 μg/l) and 6,β-naltrexol (250 μg/l) from both human plasma and milk were greater than 70%. Intra-assay and inter-day precision ranged from 3 to 21% for naltrexone and 2–18% for 6,β-naltrexol for all matrices investigated, with an overall mean accuracy of 104% for naltrexone, and 99% for 6,β-naltrexol. Human samples containing these analytes were stable for at least 3 weeks at −20°C or 6 weeks at −80°C. Analysis of the plasma and milk from the lactating sheep showed mean milk-to-plasma ratios of 55 for naltrexone and 3 for 6,β-naltrexol.