Patch-clamp whole-cell recording techniques were used to study ATP-induced Cl- current and the effects of Cl- channel blockers on NO release in bovine aortic endothelial cells. ATP evoked an outward rectified Cl- current with a reversal potential of 2973mV. This outward rectified Cl- current was dependent on Ca2+ influx, but not Ca2+ release. In Ca2+-free medium, ATP did not produce the Cl- current; however, subsequent addition of Ca2+ to the medium evoked an ATP-induced outward rectified Cl- current. Furosemide, glibenclamide, and DIDS inhibited ATP-activated Cl- current in a concentrationdependent manner with maximal inhibition of 8874%, 9371%, and 7973%, respectively. The IC50 values of furosemide, glibenclamide, and DIDS were 6.272.6, 29.6712.3, and 21.0713.4mM, respectively. These effects of Cl- channel blockers matched those on NO release from endothelial cells. Our data suggest that ATP-induced Ca2+ entry followed by increased [Ca2+]i activates Ca2+-activated Cl- channels which mediate NO release from endothelial cells. Drug Dev. Res. 57: 000-000, 2003