Interest in the role of membrane lipids in Schwann cell function prompted this study of lipid antigens on myelin- and non-myelin forming Schwann cells. Using the monoclonal antibodies 07, which recognises galactocerebroside, 08, 09 and 011, the distribution and time course of expression of the 4 membrane lipids have been determined in Schwann cells of the rat sciatic nerve and sympathetic trunk, derived from 1-60-day-old rats. The proportion of Schwann cells binding each monoclonal antibody was found by dissociating the nerves and allowing 3 h for the cells to attach to coverslips, prior to double label immunofluorescence, using the monoclonal antibody in conjunction with antibodies to S100 as a general Schwann cell marker, or P0 to distinguish cells which had formed myelin. All 4 lipid antigens were expressed by myelin forming Schwann cells, appearing just before, or at the time that the cells started to form myelin. Only 011 was restricted to myelin forming Schwann cells. Non-myelin forming Schwann cells expressed 07, 08 and 09. In the cervical sympathetic trunk, the developmental expression of these 3 lipids was essentially complete by postnatal day 20, whereas in the sciatic nerve, expression was not complete until days 40-60. The results show that the biochemical maturation in non-myelin forming Schwann cells differs greatly between different nerves, and may not be completed until several weeks postnatally. The results also demonstrate that in addition to galactocerebroside, other similarities exist in the lipid composition of myelin and the plasma membrane of non-myelin forming Schwann cells since the lipids defined by 08 and 09 antibodies are found among both Schwann cell variants.