“…Using the imaging technique to directly measure SR Ca 2ϩ release fluxes, in conjunction with the r = −0.44 P < 0.001 unique agonist, FPL64176, to manipulate the gating properties of L-type Ca 2ϩ channels, we have provided compelling evidence that SR Ca 2ϩ release during excitation-contraction coupling is terminated mainly by a local inactivation of RyRs in intact myocytes, whereas stochastic attrition, depletion of SR Ca 2ϩ , and the adaptation of RyRs observed in lipid-layers (20,21) do not participate or only play a contributing role in terminating Ca 2ϩ release in situ. This inactivation of RyRs may depend on the high local [Ca 2ϩ ]consequential to their own Ca 2ϩ release, as suggested previously in skinned fibers (2,18), SR vesicles (44), and in single RyRs in lipid bilayers (45)(46)(47), as well as recently in intact myocytes (48), showing that the rate of Ca 2ϩ spark termination is related to the magnitude of release flux. However, the possibility that the process is obligated to the activation of RyRs per se (49) cannot be excluded.…”