Tissue distribution of coenzyme and other forms of vitamin B12 in control subjects and patients with pernicious anaemia.

1. Methylcobalamin (Me-B 12 ), adenosylcobalamin (Ado-B 12 ), hydroxocobalamin (OH-B 12 ) and cyanocobalamin (CN-B 12 ) have been estimated by a chromatographic—bioautographic technique in plasma, erythrocytes, leucocytes and bone marrow from normal subjects, hospital controls and patients with untreated pernicious anaemia. 2. Estimates of concentrations of cobalamins have also been obtained in bile, cerebrospinal fluid, liver biopsies and in autopsy samples of liver, kidney, spleen, brain and pituitary. 3. In normal and control subjects, Ado-B 12 predominated in all samples except plasma, in which Me-B 12 was the predominant form. Me-B 12 , Ado-B 12 , OH-B 12 and CN-B 12 were found in normal erythrocytes, leucocytes and bone marrow and the proportion of each cobalamin was fairly similar in all these tissues. In liver, kidney, spleen, brain and pituitary, the proportions of the cobalamins were more variable. No CN-B 12 was detected in these organs. 4. In untreated pernicious anaemia, Me-B 12 was disproportionately reduced in plasma, but not in erythrocytes, leucocytes or bone marrow. There was a small increase in the proportion of CN-B 12 in plasma, blood cells and bone marrow in untreated pernicious anaemia.