Increase in S-adenosylhomocysteine content and its effect on the S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase activity under transient high plasma homocysteine levels in rats

The objective of this study was to examine how transient high plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels affect the metabolism of Hcy, the activity and expression of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) hydrolase which catalyzes both SAH hydrolysis and SAH synthesis. Wistar ST rats (mates) were carmulated in the right jugular vein for intravenous infusion of physiological saline or DL-Hcy solutions (15 and 30 mg/mL) for 1 h at 1.1 mL/h/rat. The content of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), SAH-synthetic activity of SAH hydrolase and the expression of SAH hydrolase mRNA in liver extracts showed no significant difference in the Hcy infused groups as compared to the Control group. On the other hand, the contents of hepatic SAH in the Hcy infused groups were dose-dependent and significantly higher than that of the Control group. Thus, this study showed that hepatic SAH increased without any increase in the SAH-synthetic activity and the expression of SAH hydrolase mRNA under transient high plasma Hcy levels after intravenous infusion of Hcy.