In vivo elevation of mouse brain S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine after treatment with L-homocysteine.

Intraperitoneal coadministration of adenosine and L-homocysteine markedly increased S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine in whole mouse brain, but further investigations showed that this elevation could also be produced following administration of L-homocysteine alone. The noted increase was maximal (+1325%) 10 min after treatment, remaining at about this level for 30-40 min before returning to control values after 180 min. Cerebral adenosine levels were decreased after treatment with L-homocysteine, adenosine, or these two substances in combination.