Characterization and quantification of rat bile phosphatidylcholine by electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry.

Rat bile phosphatidylcholine was structurally characterized and quantified by electrospray mass spectrometry using a triple quadrupole instrument. All results were obtained by direct analysis of an unprocessed total lipid extract from rat bile. Structural characterization of phosphatidylcholine was achieved by collision-induced dissociation of [M + Cl]- ions observed in the negative-ion electrospray mass spectrum.