Recently, much attention has been paid to the physiological effects of magnesium ion (Mg^<2+> ), highly contained in bittern, known as "nigari" among health-conscious people. It is well accepted that the vasodilatory effect of Mg^<2+> is affected by the antagonism of calcium ion (Ca^<2+> ). However, the pre- cise influence of Mg^<2+> on Ca^<2+> regulation remains to be elucidated. To determine the mechanism of Mg^<2+> on the vasodilatory action, the changes in the tension development and intracellular free Ca^<2+> ([Ca^<2+>]_1) after the administration of Mg^<2+> were analyzed under two dis...
