Fig. 1. bFGF enhances THA-sensitive glutamate uptake activity in astrocyte cultures. (A) [³H]glutamate uptake activity of confluent astrocyte cultures was measured in [³H]glutamate-free or Na⁺-free medium or in the presence of THA, a non-selective inhibitor of glutamate transporters, or DHK, a selective inhibitor of GLT-1. (B) [³H]glutamate uptake activity in the absence or presence of these inhibitors was measured in the astrocytes treated with bFGF for 24 hours. The relative activity is expressed as a percentage of that in intact astrocytes (Control). bFGF enhanced THA-sensitive glutamate transport activity in a concentration-dependent manner. (*<0.05; **p<0.01 vs control; ^#p<0.05; ^##p<0.01 vs 3 ng/ml bFGF, Tukey’s test following ANOVA). Data are means±s.e.m. of 4-8 cases.