To investigate action of ATP on ischemia-induced brain injury, we measured phospholipase $A_2$activity and nitric oxide (NO) production in C6 cells. ATP alone did not have any influence on phospholipase $A_2$activity but increased NO production. Glutamate (1 mM) significantly increased phospholipase $A_2$activity whereas did not increased NO production. ATP significantly inhibited phospholipase $A_2$activation induced by 0.1 $mu$M A23187, 1 mM glutamate and 1 mM $H_2O$$_2$, but did not inhibited 1 $mu$M PMA-induced phospholipase $A_2$activation. From the above results, it is suggested that the action of ATP in C6 cells has dual actions, such as the inhibition of agonist-induced phospholipase $A_2$activation and the increase of NO production.