Ionic gradients imposed by choline Cl replacement of K methanesulfonate (Mes) at constant [K][Cl] product stimulate "Ca efflux from skinned muscle fibers ; a small, sustained Ca"-insensitive efflux component, observed in EGTA, appears to grade a much larger Ca"-dependent component responsible for contractile activation and is likely to reflect intermediate steps in excitation-contraction coupling. The present studies examined ATP-related effects on the Ca"-insensitive stimulation . "Ca efflux was measured on segments of frog semitendinosus muscle skinned by microdissection, with isometric force monitored continuously . The Ca"-insensitive component was potentiated by quercetin, a flavonoid thought to inhibit the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca pump by stabilizing a phosphorylated intermediate . Quercetin increased the stimulated net "Ca release in the absence of EGTA, as expected from inhibition of reaccumulation, but its effectiveness in EGTA indicated potentiation of unidirectional efflux as such . Quercetin also increased unstimulated (control) "Ca efflux in EGTA, to a smaller extent ; potentiation appeared to be a function of efflux, with stimulation above control loss increased -2 .6-fold . ATP removal before stimulation, which led to rigor force and increased stiffness, prevented all quercetin effects in EGTA . ATP removal by itselfinhibited ionic stimulation of the Ca"-insensitive component, with little residual increase above the parallel control loss. Addition of the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue AMP-PCP ([adenylyl-/3,-y-methylene]diphosphate) (0 .8 mM) after ATP removal gave similar results to ATP-free solution, which suggests that adenine nucleotide binding alone does not support stimulation by choline Cl . These results imply a fundamental role for ATP in the excitation of skinned fibers by imposed diffusion potentials; they also suggest that ATP regulates the SR Ca efflux channel, in a manner that could provide the positive feedback in Ca"-dependent Ca release.J. GEN. PHVstot. .