Inositol uptake by cultured isolated rat Schwann cells.

The uptake of radiolabeled myo-inositol by Schwann cells isolated from the sciatic nerve of 2-4 day old rats was found to occur by a saturable, sodium-dependent phlorizin-inhibited mechanism with an estimated Km of 30 microM. The system was inhibited by galactose and glucose but not by galactitol. At high concentrations of myo-inositol, a diffusion-like process appeared to be functional. The characteristics of the saturable system are very similar to those of myo-inositol uptake by the endoneural fascicle preparation of sciatic nerve.