HIGH AFFINITY UPTAKE OF L‐GLUTAMATE AND L‐ASPARTATE BY GLIAL CELLS

Abstract

Abstract— The presence of an efficient, high affinity uptake system specific for L‐glutamate and L‐aspartate has been demonstrated in cultured glial cells originating from syrian hamster astroblasts (line NN). The system was found to be temperature dependent, to require sodium ions and its structural specificity is similar to systems studied previously in brain slices and synaptosomes. Co‐culturing of the glial cells with neuroblastoma cells brought about only minor changes in structural specificity while values of kinetic parameters remained virtually unchanged. The temperature dependence and the susceptibility to metabolic inhibitors suggest that the uptake is mediated by an active transport system.