GABA uptake by purified rat schwann cells in culture.

Purified rat Schwann cells maintained in culture for up to 6 months retained their ability to take up the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by a high-affinity mechanism. Although cultured fibroblasts also accumulated GABA, they did so by a low affinity mechanism. These results indicate that Schwann cells continue to express a high affinity GABA transport system in the absence of signals from neurons.