The mechanisms by which pantothenic acid (PA) enters and leaves brain, choroid plexus, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were investigated by injecting [3H]PA either intravenously or intraventricularly into adult rabbits. [3H]PA, either alone or together with unlabeled PA, was infused at a constant rate into conscious rabbits. At 180 min, [3H]PA readily entered CSF, choroid plexus, and brain. In brain, CSF, and plasma, greater than 90% of the 3H was associated with [3H]PA. The addition of 200 mumol/kg PA to the infusion syringe decreased the penetration of [3H]PA into brain and CSF by approximately 70%. Two hours after the intraventricular injection of [3H]PA, [3H]PA was rapidly cleared from the CSF by a probenecid-sensitive mechanism. No metabolism of the [3H]PA occurred in brain. However, 18 h after the intraventricular injection of 37 microCi (34 nmol) of [3H]PA, approximately 40% of the 3H remaining in forebrain was converted to [3H]CoA. These results show that PA enters and leaves CSF and brain by saturable transport systems. However, [3H]PA is very slowly converted to [3H]CoA in brain in vivo.