The effects of antimycin A(AA), dodium azide ($NaN_3$) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), which inhibit mitochondrial ATP production, on cellular functions of cultured astrocytes were studied. High concentrations of AA $(50{;}mu extrm{g}/ml),{;}NaN_3$ (100mM) and DNP (20mM) significantly decreased 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction, which was known to be related to mitochondrial function and then cel viability. AA ($50{;}mu extrm{g}/ml$) increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and decreased [$^3H$] glutamate uptake, suggesting severe damage of cellular function by the concentrations of the compounds. Meanwhile, low concentrations of AA $(leq{;}10{;}mu extrm{g}/ml),{;}NaN_3{;}(leq{;}50mM)$ and DNP ($leq{;}5mM$) significantly increased MTT reduction, the effect of which was specific to astrocytes. AA (5 and $10{;}mu extrm{g}/ml$) did not affect LDH release and [$^3H$] glutamate uptake, indicating that these compounds increased MTT reduction at the low concentrations without cellular membrane damage. However, the low concentrations of AA produced significant decrease of MTT reduction in a glucose-free medium. Low concentrations of AA (1 and $5{;}mu extrm{g}/ml$) did not change ATP production of astrocytes in the medium containing 10 mM glucose, but completely inhibited in a glucose-free medium, suggesting marked increase of cytosolic ATP production by the blockade of mitochondrial ATP production with low concentrations of AA. These results suggest that astrocytes have ability to enhance neuronal function or survival under conditions of incomplete ischemia or early by enhancement of glycolysis, and that cellular reduction of MTT occurs not only mitochondrially but also extramitchondrially.