Brain and plasma concentrations of (+)- and (-)-amphetamine were compared as a function of dose and time after administration to mice. Doses of an amphetamine isomer contained 12 muCi of [14C]-(+) or (-)-amphetamine. Thirty minutes after administration of 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg i.p., (+)-amphetamine/(-)-amphetamine concentration ratios in the brain were significantly greater than 1; this ratio was less than 1 for the 15 mg/kg dose. Plasma concentration ratios were significantly greater than 1 for all doses. The ratios of +/-isomers were consistently greater than 1 in brain and plasma when determined at various times (7.5--120 min) after 2.5 and 10 mg/kg i.p. By contrast, i.v. administration of these doses resulted in no isomeric differences in brain amphetamine, alhough plasma (+)-amphetamine/(-)-amphetamine ratios remained somewhat elevated. After SKF 525-A pretreatment, the i.p. and i.v. routes resulted in similar (+)-amphetamince/(-)-amphetamine concentration ratios. These results suggest that (-)-amphetamine has a higher apparent volume of distribution (Vd) than (+)-amphetamine [Vd for (+)- and (-)-amphetamine, 2.5 mg/kg i.v. = 3.35 and 4.61 liters/kg, respectively; Vd for (+)- and (-)-amphetamine 10 mg/kg i.v. = 2.36 and 4.61 liters/kg, respectively] and that the (-)-isomer may be extracted more efficiently by the liver [plasma clearance (V) for (+)- and (-)-amphetamine 2.5 mg/kg i.v. = 6.91 and 9.09 liters/hr/kg respectively; V for (+)- and (-)-amphetamine 10 mg/kg i.v. = 2.85 and 4.33 liters/hr/kg, respectively] resulting in lower plasma and brain concentrations after i.p. administration.